Everybody’s Weirded Out by AI—Except the People Who Foist It on Us
Summary
The New Republic op-ed argues AI risks social and cognitive harms, citing studies on students using generative AI for brainstorming and writing and the resulting cognitive offloading and poorer retention. It warns that AI can erode learning, misinform, and shift power to developers and industry, while governments and firms push for rapid AI adoption. The piece also notes data-center expansion and the broader economic implications, calling for critical scrutiny of AI use in society.