Can AI make you lazier and dumber?

"By the time we realize what’s happening with AI, it may be too late." Geoffrey Hinton (Godfather of AI)

In today’s post:

• Study: The effect of AI on us

• OpenAI: They reject Elon Musk bid

• Elon Musk is raising $10 billion

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Microsoft x Mellon University

Is AI Making Us Lazy Thinkers?

You ever catch yourself asking AI how to spell “restaurant” even though you should know it? Yeah, same. Turns out, Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University have been looking into this, and their findings are a bit…unsettling.

Here’s what they found:

• Brain on autopilot? When we rely too much on AI, we stop engaging in deep thinking. Our problem-solving muscles get weak—like skipping leg day, but for your brain.

• AI’s creativity cap: AI pulls from pre-existing data, which means it might not push us toward the most innovative solutions. Instead of broadening our thinking, it could be narrowing it.

• Cognitive atrophy is real: If we let AI do all the thinking, our ability to solve problems independently could decline. “Use it or lose it” applies to your brain, too.

• Workplace woes: Employees depending too much on AI might struggle when tech isn’t available. The key? AI should be a partner, not a crutch.

Here’s what I think:

AI is incredible, but it's not a replacement for thinking. If we use it wisely—like a tool, not a brain substitute, we’ll be fine. Just maybe try spelling “restaurant” on your own next time.

What do you think? Are we getting lazier, or just working smarter?

Here’s a PDF if you want to read the full study

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Rejection from OpenAI

OpenAI to Musk: Hard Pass

Elon Musk tried to buy OpenAI’s nonprofit wing for nearly $100 billion, and OpenAI’s board didn’t just say no they unanimously rejected it.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Board shuts it down: OpenAI’s chair, Bret Taylor, called Musk’s bid an attempt to "disrupt his competition" and said OpenAI "is not for sale."

• Legal drama continues: Musk is already suing OpenAI and Sam Altman, claiming the company abandoned its nonprofit mission.

• The restructuring twist: OpenAI is moving toward becoming a public benefit corporation, a change Musk wants to block. His lawyers say he’d drop his bid if OpenAI sticks to its original nonprofit mission.

• Public feud escalates: Musk’s backers are calling Altman a fraud, while Altman says Musk is just trying to slow OpenAI down.

Here’s what I think:

This isn’t just about money but it’s a power struggle over AI’s future. Musk helped start OpenAI, but now he’s trying to take back control. Whether that’s for the “good of humanity” or just to beat the competition? That’s up for debate.

Fundraising

Musk’s xAI Chasing $10 Billion Here’s Why

Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, is reportedly in talks to raise a massive $10 billion, pushing its valuation to $75 billion. But what’s all this money for?

Here’s the scoop:

• Big investors on board: xAI is courting heavyweights like Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Valor Equity Partners for funding.

• AI arms race: Musk’s company is eyeing a $5 billion server purchase from Dell to fuel its AI ambitions especially for its Grok chatbot.

• Grok 3 incoming: The next version of xAI’s chatbot, Grok 3, is dropping in the coming weeks. Expect deeper integration with X.

• Musk’s AI takeover? xAI is quickly becoming a major player, challenging OpenAI, Google, and Meta in the AI space.

Here’s what I think:

Musk isn’t just building another chatbot but he’s making a play for dominance in AI. With this level of funding, xAI could become a serious threat to OpenAI. The question is, can Grok really compete with ChatGPT? Or is this just another Musk flex?

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