Chmiel sits down with ON_Discourse members Natalie Monbiot and Craig Elimeliah for a sharp dive into AI’s hidden cost: the erosion of human cognition. Natalie, founder of Virtual Human Economy, shares research showing how over-reliance on LLMs can short-circuit learning, while Craig, Chief Creative Officer at Code and Theory, explores how design choices can either feed (or fight) that decline. Together, they unpack why today’s AI interfaces make it too easy to bypass thinking, and how reimagined UX could keep humans in the loop without slowing progress.

Details in the Show

• Why cognitive “bypassing” is more a UX problem than an AI inevitability
• The MIT Media Lab study showing how starting with AI leads to zero recall and weaker encoding of ideas
• What “caring” means in creative work, and why instant AI answers kill it
• How better interface design could encourage iteration, reflection, and deeper engagement
• Craig’s view on designing AI experiences that empower rather than overwhelm users
• Why friction is the spark for meaning-making and growth
• A challenge to AI product teams: stop optimizing for speed at the expense of human depth

Learn more at ON_Discourse.com.

About ON_Discourse

ON_Discourse is a private community of C-suite leaders, investors, and innovators who come together to challenge assumptions, sharpen ideas, and drive transformation through discourse. 

As an experiment in modern discourse, the show’s hosts co-founders, Toby Daniels, Dan Gardner, and Head of Discourse, Matt Chmiel, explore how emerging technologies, such as AI are reshaping business, creativity, and culture, grounded in the real-world experiences that emerge from our community’s private Group Chats.

Learn more about becoming part of the community: ondiscourse.com

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