5 Ways AI Will Transform The Ways We Think, Work And Connect

Forbes

27-05-2025

AI will transform how we think.
Will AI change the way you think? Yes, the chances are very good that it will, actually. In fact, AI is likely to transform how we think as well as how we work, solve problems, connect and relate to each other. The effects will be significant, and there is plenty of evidence the shifts are already occurring.
It's an important topic as AI is seemingly taking the world by storm, and it is changing work significantly. It already affects not only how we find information, but also how judge and process information. Perhaps most significantly, AI has the potential to shift how we understand ourselves and each other.
We are wise to consider how to embrace AI and also how to incorporate it, without losing ourselves in the process.
These are the five primary ways AI will shift how you think and relate.
AI may be reducing our knowledge and motivation. Specifically, a study found that when students used AI, they didn't learn as much. They experienced less knowledge gain and their learning was more superficial. They also experienced reduced motivation and interest in their topic. They had greater dependence on AI, rather than relying on their own thinking or capabilities. This was according to a study published in the British Journal of Educational Technology.
Of course, there are also examples where AI is helpful in the learning process, especially when we get new knowledge from AI and then apply and experiment in classrooms or in the workplace. Evidence has also shown that AI is especially helpful in tutoring and coaching. It may work well because in the process of learning, people don't feel embarrassed when they make mistakes, as they might with humans.
How to Respond: Use AI in addition to thinking for yourself. Stay curious about topics that interest you and always question, proof and polish the output you get from AI.
AI may also reduce our thinking skills, as we rely on it for more complex functions. A study by Anthropic found that people used Claude (a competitor to ChatGPT) primarily for creation (39.8% of people) as well as analysis (30.2%). It was used to a lesser extent for evaluating (5.5%), applying (10.9%), understanding (10%) or remembering (1.8%).
Creation, analysis and evaluating are known as higher-order thinking skills, because they require critical judgement and a deeper understanding of concepts, as well as the ability to apply knowledge in new or novel ways. AI puts these at risk, as it replaces our use of them. But these thinking skills are fundamental to our ability to solve real world problems and function effectively.
There are advantages to AI, of course, as it can assist with plenty of tasks from brainstorming or developing a first draft to comparing or contrasting documents or giving us feedback to finalize a draft. This kind of help can contribute to our performance, but it becomes concerning if we lose the ability to do these kinds of thinking tasks on our own.
How to Respond: Use AI especially for lower-order thinking, or for mundane or routine tasks. And when you're working in partnership with AI, stay personally engaged with tasks that require deeper processing.
AI will change how we connect and relate.
Another way AI may change us is evident in how we interact with others. A senior executive at a global design firm recently shared that he was using AI as a thinking partner. During his commute he has long conversations with AI as he thinks out loud, asks questions, solves problems and develops his ideas.
All of this can be a terrific assist to his results, except if his process gets in the way of how he interacts with others. His conversations with AI are potentially taking the place of meaningful discussions with his spouse, and he's not in dialogue with his staff about solving problems. As a result, they don't get the benefit of exposure to his thinking or the advantages that come from learning how he works through a problem. These missed conversations with humans are also lost opportunities to build relationships, rapport and connections.
In another example, Match Group, which owns dating and connection apps like Tinder, Hinge and Match.com, has announced that it will incorporate AI to help users choose a profile picture, write an appealing profile and even flirt. Consider the implications when you get together for coffee with a new connection. Your AI may have been flirting with their AI, but you may have less knowledge or understanding of the actual person you're meeting.
How to Respond: Be intentional about when you're interacting with AI and when you choose to engage with other humans. Protect and prioritize time to be together in person and build relationships.
Another key way that AI may change us and how we think is in terms of trust. AI regularly deceives humans. This is true even with AI that has been programmed with goals to help people and interact with honesty and integrity. According to research published in Patterns, deception was prevalent and it was often the result of the AI trying to be as efficient and effective as possible.
When people are deceived by the information AI shares, or when they believe they're interacting with a human and later realize it was a bot, it creates suspicion. And this suspicion can carry over to human relationships, creating a general sense of questioning or mistrust, according to research published in Computer Supported Cooperative Work.
Ultimately, AI may affect the way we perceive each other. It may make us suspicious or distant as we question people's integrity, authenticity or trustworthiness.
How to Respond: Build relationships that have depth, and ensure you're connecting with people in person enough.
Another way AI may affect us is related to confidence. We learn through trial and error, and we build confidence through struggling, failing, trying and figuring out what works best. But with AI, answers are easier, and we lose the opportunity to learn by doing, or to develop the deep expertise that comes from it.
In fact, AI is replacing entry-level jobs which feature the opportunity to be in the trenches and roll up sleeves to learn. In fact, 86% of executives plan to replace entry-level jobs with AI, and 8% of executives have stopped hiring for entry-level jobs because AI can perform the tasks. In addition, almost 15% are investing in AI to intentionally cut human jobs. All of this is according to data from Clarify Capital.
At the same time, AI can deliver advantages to both people and business by taking over work that is less inspiring, and by reducing costs for work that doesn't need to be performed by humans. It may also alleviate the talent shortage we face today.
How to Respond: Seek out opportunities to challenge yourself and learn new things, no matter what your age. Also remind yourself of how you make a unique and important impact, beyond what technology can deliver.
People have resisted technological innovations for years. The Luddites were textile workers in 19th century Britain who feared technology would take their jobs, and they destroyed machinery as a result. We don't want to be Luddites and reject technology, but we are wise to incorporate it with intention and care.
AI will transform how we think, and it will certainly change how we work, live and relate. It may shift how we learn and what motivates us. It will also change the ways we interact and build relationships. In addition, it may change how confident we feel about ourselves and our contributions. But we can respond by being intentional and engaged, and by investing time in relationships with real people in the real world.