AI And The Decline Of Human Intelligence

"The problem is not that AI is smarter than us, the problem is that it’s becoming increasingly easy for us to outsource our skills to AI... If we outsource our writing skills, we lose our writing ability... If we depend on AI to analyze information and make decisions, we lose our ability to think critically and analyze complex situations ourselves... Our brain is a muscle; it needs to be exercised."

This echoes my own most recent post, but I am reminded of Socrates decrying writing because it meant his students would not need to memorise everything. Has writing made us dumber?

Anyway, the solution is "a change in mindset... treat AI as a way to help us enhance our work, to augment it... turn [AI] into a knowledge partner", which echoes the old "AI as muse" idea. Some methods and appropriate prompts:

• Socratic Method (him again): "guide us to the right answer" ... You are a professor who utilizes the Socratic method to teach me about various topics upon my request. Please conclude your responses with thought-provoking questions to encourage deeper reflection and discussion. Use a casual and sometimes witty tone.
• "Feynman Method ... learning and grasping complex concepts by breaking them down into simpler terms..: "Identify potential gaps or unclear points in my explanation of [topic] explanation: [your input] "
• or combine the two: "Let’s discuss a topic or concept that I’m curious about, and you’ll ask me questions to help me explore it further. We’ll work together to build a deep understanding of the topic, and you’ll provide feedback to help me identify any misconceptions or gaps in my understanding of the topic."
• Debate Partner: "I would like to debate the topic of [topic]. I will present my position, and I would like you to challenge my arguments by providing counterarguments and asking critical questions. Please focus on identifying any logical fallacies, weaknesses, or areas where my reasoning can be improved. Additionally, offer alternative perspectives and evidence that contradict my stance. Let’s engage in a respectful and thought-provoking debate to help me strengthen my understanding and ability to argue effectively."
• "improve your critical thinking skills: Please provide a detailed analysis of [topic], including different perspectives, potential implications, and any relevant evidence.
  Challenge my current understanding by posing thought-provoking questions, highlighting assumptions, and suggesting alternative viewpoints. Additionally, help me identify any biases or logical fallacies in my thinking.
  Let’s engage in a comprehensive discussion that pushes me to think more deeply and critically about the subject.
• Help Me Understand: "I am a detail-oriented [persona], seeking to understand this topic to the best of my ability. I am [reading this article, watching this youtube video, etc..] Your task is to help me understand this content [paste URL or upload file].
  Summarize this in 3 levels and one paragraph each: 5th grade level, Highschool level, and academic level.
  Ask me questions to help me understand it."

In summary: use AI as "a tutor or consultant, guiding us like a teacher does".