A July 9 review in Trends in Cognitive Sciences says AI tends to weaken human skills when it takes over the mental work, but can preserve or improve learning when users stay cognitively engaged.
Three months of AI-assisted colonoscopies left doctors with lower unaided polyp-detection rates, while students using answer-giving AI for math or SAT practice performed worse once the tool was removed.
Guided systems worked differently: a Wharton math tool that gave hints instead of answers matched traditional study results, keeping students involved in solving problems themselves.
A 2026 preprint also found AI feedback on cover letters was as effective as professional feedback when users revised drafts actively, suggesting examples can teach if people still do the work.
Researchers say the practical rule is to protect valued skills through practice and use AI to support effort rather than replace it—"outsource the crap, not the craft."