This blog is a compilation of the show notes, transcript, and relevant links to our latest Lattice episode, number 97, where Jenny first experimented with the monologue style. In this episode of the Lattice Podcast, Jenny Chen explores the intriguing question, “Is ChatGPT making us stupid?” She delves into the complexities of cognitive offloading and cognitive miserliness, discussing studies from MIT and the University of Pennsylvania that highlight the potential cognitive costs of relying on AI tools like ChatGPT. Jenny also touches on the challenges and future of 3D printing technology, emphasizing the need for user-friendly innovations to make it accessible to a broader audience. The episode encourages listeners to find a balance between leveraging AI for productivity and maintaining cognitive independence.

Transcript (sort of):

Hello, hello, hello. Welcome to the Lattice Podcast, episode 97. This is a special episode because I have never done this before. And this will be my very first monologue episode. You can call this section Two Cents. Here, I aim to share some of my insights and thoughts on interesting topics, drawn from my own media consumption and conversations, as they are highly relevant and potentially valuable to our audience. 

The question I’m pondering is, is ChatGPT making me stupid?

Before we delve into this exciting topic, I would like to announce an upcoming in-person event, which is a rare occurrence for us due to its expense. But we’re planning on a fantastic event on January 11th, 2026. Yes, we’re already moving on to next year. And it will be the Sunday right before the JP Morgan event. This event is open to the public, but space is limited. Stay tuned for the official announcement, which will be shared through our newsletter, for ticket details and availability. Primarily, this event focuses on entrepreneurs and investors in the space of 3D technologies.  

Now back to the main programming.  

I have to come clean that we have published quite a few blogs on our website, using 95 % generated using chatGTP. For example, Four U.S. Dental Schools At The Frontier of 3D Printing Education

Weirdly, I am not particularly proud of it. Yes, the content is good. It is valuable to some people based on the number of likes I saw on social media after we posted it. But personally, I don’t feel proud of doing it because it felt like cheating. I haven’t put in enough hard work to earn applause. The first three people who can identify which other blog posts we have written using ChadGTP on 3DHEALS.com will receive a free ticket to our January event. 

Let’s talk about what I really want to talk about: Is ChatGTP making me stupid? 

You’re probably already going to guess what my answer is, but the truth is, this is a much more complicated question than it appears to be. I think that, if we want to follow the current trend of articles published in the media, the conclusion is that CHATGTP is not effective — no bueno — especially for students in the educational space. Students are not going to learn as much or struggle mentally as much. I can also discuss two articles I’ve seen recently to illustrate this point. However, I think it’s a nuanced question, and we should consider it slowly and carefully, because we are at a juncture of a technological revolution, and revolutions typically have casualties.

And many serious researchers are trying to determine the benefits and drawbacks of this potent tool. That is, how can we use this new tool effectively to maximize productivity without diminishing humanity and certainly not causing something unthinkable, like being ruled by an AI overlord? 

By the way, the latest scary scenario is not an AI Overlord, but that AI does not even need humans at all. They don’t need to rule over us because we’re of no use to them. 

Let’s pause and think about that. 

I have seen two fascinating publications in academia that I want to share here: 

The first study from the MIT Media Lab examines the impact of utilizing a large language model, such as ChatGTP, for essay writing. They grouped some students into three groups. One uses chatGTP to write the assigned essay, one group uses nothing as a control group, and one uses a search engine. Each group completed three sessions under the same conditions. 

To gather outcomes, the researchers utilized electroencephalography (EEG), a device that monitors brain waves, to assess cognitive load during essay writing. They also used NLP to analyze the writings, both human and AI judge,s to score the essays.

 Here is the finding: 

The “no-tool” brain-only group exhibited the strongest, most distributed networks based on EEG, while the CHATGTP users displayed the weakest connectivity. The search engine group is in the middle of the three groups. That means the more tools you use, the less the cognitive load. 

Makes sense.

But here is the kicker. 

The self-reported ownership of essays was the lowest in the large language model group and the highest in the brain-only group. Large language model users also struggle to quote their own work accurately. This is precisely how I felt after I published several ChatGPT-written blogs on our website. I honestly could not name all four schools as the top dental schools that focus on 3D printing education in my own blog.  

Therefore, in this scenario, while LLM offers immediate convenience, this shows potential cognitive costs. And over four months, large language model users consistently underperform at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels. So obviously the conclusion of this article is that we need to exercise caution when using ChatGTP for creative writing. 

The second publication, which came out of UPenn, focuses on solving math problems and includes a study involving over 1,000 students. This study shows that students using ChatGTP initially outperformed their peers by 48% during practice; however, when tested without AI, their scores dropped 17% below those of their unassisted counterparts. 

This again suggests that a short-term productivity gain may have a long-term performance cost.

And if we, as a species that aspires to progress through innovations and creativity, rely on ChatGTP for near-term ROI, it could be detrimental to our long-term goals. 

And if we, as a species that aspires to progress through innovations and creativity, rely on ChatGTP for near-term ROI, it could be detrimental to our long-term goals. 

In other words, in the long run, you are not creating a more creative, robust mental labor group.

Here, I also want to introduce two interesting concepts: 

Cognitifive offloading and cognitive miserliness. (A bit tongue twist but important!)

 What is a cognitive load? 

Cognitive load refers to the total mental effort required in a person’s working memory at any given time. 

So, for example, after the invention of the calculator, we rarely need to do five-digit multiplication by hand. After the availability of GPS and mobile phones, I rarely need to memorize routes to my dog groomer, which is only 3 miles away. 

ChatGPT is one of the most powerful tools available to help us achieve cognitive offloading across various tasks in our daily lives. In fact, this is how AI enhances productivity. That is, we don’t have to expend too much mental energy on mindless, repetitive tasks, such as organizing emails or scheduling appointments. 

But here is where the second important concept comes in – cognitive miserliness. 

By the way, the word miserliness means excessive desire to save money (Extreme stinginess). 

 Mental miserliness is our tendency to do things that require less mental effort. So imagine that you have to write an article, and with the help of chatGTP mental offloading, you could finish your task in no time, and you really enjoyed that. And the next time you are tasked with writing an article, instead of struggling through this complex creative process, your brain yearns to chatGTP again. Over time, you will become more reliant on ChatGTP for a variety of tasks, and your ability to complete these tasks independently will atrophy. In fact, it is reported that some workers will use chatGTP for work against their employers’ ban on the tool. It’s almost like an addictive drug in a way. 

So, mental offloading can be beneficial, but cognitive miserliness can be detrimental. 

Where is the perfect balance? 

The verdict is out there, but I want us all to be aware of these because that’s the first step. Avoiding a new technology is never the smartest move. Hence,  I will not resort to learning to ride a horse so that I can avoid driving, even though car accidents certainly kill. 

But I will fight hard to maintain the optionality to pick and choose which mental offloading I can safely enjoy, so that no other intelligence system can choose it for me. 

Now, I would like to discuss 3D printing briefly. AI for 3D Printing is a lot more than LLM and is still in its infancy.  

I have personally owned more than five printers of various qualities and types in the past. And I have to say, I do not, I do not love the experience. I was mentally overloaded while tinkering with these machines. 

And for the moment, I have given up on these. 

However, 80% of our audience members are not natural tinkers. And that poses a problem for the industry. 

When your technology is complicated to use, you are not ready to scale. We now have consumer-based printers, such as Bambu Labs and Prusa 3D, that are gaining increasing traction among average people and hobbyists. But they are still working in the group with a predilection for being able to tinker. And the day that 3D printing really becomes a mass consumer product is when the machine is straightforward to use. That is where AI can really help us with some good cognitive offloading. 

Relevant Links:

Generative AI without guardrails can harm learning: Evidence from high school mathematics

Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task