Why your brain matters more than ever in the AI age

Fast Company

14 hours ago

It can be enthralling to watch artificial intelligence models progress toward a mastery of deep learning. But are we as equally invested in our own abilities to think and learn? The human capacity to think deeply, find meaning, and apply wisdom is what makes us unique. Yet, it is increasingly tempting and easy to rely on the fast, accessible answers that AI provides.
In a recent McKinsey study of organizations that use generative AI, only 27% said that employees review all content created by gen AI before it is used. One-third of respondents said that only 20% or less of gen-AI-produced content is checked before use.
The antidote in this moment is critical thinking. Critical thinking is sometimes called 'careful thinking,' as it involves questioning, interpretation, and discernment. Critical thinking is not always our default mode, and it's already under siege from frequent AI usage. However, critical thinking skills can be taught. Moreover, according to our latest research, leaders with strong critical thinking skills have better outcomes, such as confidence in their ability to lead and lower burnout.
Thinking Slow or Not at All
Whether it's a matter of being lazy or economical, humans don't think a lot if we don't have to. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Researchers estimate that our conscious brains process information at a rate of 10 bits per second. (AI models process data at trillions of bits per second.) So, we conserve our limited mental horsepower for complex tasks rather than 'wasting' it on simple or repetitive tasks. This is why we go into autopilot mode when we drive familiar routes or rely on mental shortcuts to make decisions. (For example, we are prone to judging a person's trustworthiness based on appearance instead of interactions.)
Our slow brains have a new, fast friend called AI. That's a good thing, right? It can be. AI can rapidly process vast amounts of information, recognize patterns that lie beyond human reach, and provoke us to consider new angles. AI-based tools will expand our understanding of business performance, team dynamics, market trends, and customer sentiment.
But our new friend can also exacerbate our tendency for cognitive laziness. Remember those mental shortcuts we take? In one shortcut, we overtrust answers from automated systems and don't pay attention to contradictory information, even if it's correct. As AI tools become even smarter and slicker—and answers are delivered in highly confident tones—this automation bias can grow. The downside to all of this is the risk of losing one's own capacity for thinking, learning, and reasoning.
Guillaume Delacour, global head of people development at ABB, a technology leader in electrification and automation, spoke to us about the importance of critical thinking for leaders in the age of AI. 'One of the big benefits of AI is that it always has an answer—but this is also a major challenge,' he noted. 'It can be too easy to accept the outcomes it generates. Good leaders have always needed critical thinking, but in our AI-enabled workplace, where every question has an instant answer, this skill is even more important.'
Are You a Strong Thinker?
Critical thinking is the ability to evaluate situations objectively and make informed, well-reasoned decisions. It requires us to consider biases, question assumptions, and incorporate multiple perspectives. With critical thinking, it's like your brain is doing a workout rather than just lounging on the couch. And, like a physical workout, critical thinking requires discipline, self-awareness, and effort. But the payoff is pretty significant.
We recently assessed 227 leaders on their level of critical thinking and divided the group into high and low critical thinkers. We assessed how well each group is likely to operate in the new world of AI, as well as their overall experience as a leader. The differences are striking.
Leaders Who Don't Think Will Struggle
In a world in which answers can come fast and easily, leaders who score low on critical thinking are at greater risk of letting machines do the thinking for them and becoming increasingly less sharp.
· Low critical thinkers are 18% more likely to have confirmation bias than high critical thinkers. Confirmation bias is the tendency to look for or favor information that confirms our existing beliefs.
· Low critical thinkers are 32% more likely to over-rely on gen AI for answers.
· Low critical thinkers are 36% more likely to demonstrate cognitive failures. Cognitive failures are everyday lapses in memory or functioning during situations we normally are on top of, such as forgetting where you put the car keys.
Leaders Who Think Will Thrive
Strong critical thinkers have a protective shield against the threats of AI. Critical thinking balances the pull toward cognitive laziness and guards against our natural tendencies to accept and rely on what AI tells us. Moreover, these thinkers have a better experience as a leader.
· High critical thinkers rate themselves 14% higher than low critical thinkers on their ability to perform well in their roles.
· High critical thinkers rate themselves 13% higher than low critical thinkers on their ability to lead others effectively.
· High critical thinkers rate themselves 10% higher than low critical thinkers on their ability to lead confidently into the future.
Additionally, high critical thinkers report 21% less burnout in their roles and 16% higher job satisfaction. In important ways, thinking can be a secret weapon for leaders, enabling them to be better at and happier in their jobs.
Strengthening Your Thinking Muscle
The encouraging news for leaders is that critical thinking is not a 'you have it, or you don't' proposition. Each of us can be a critical thinker, but we need to intentionally rewire our relationship to thinking in order to cultivate this vital leadership skill. Here are a few things to try.
Think about your thinking. In the course of a day or week, try taking a mental step back to observe how you think. You could ask yourself questions such as:
· What is a belief or assumption that I questioned?
· Did I change my mind about something important?
· Did I avoid any information because it challenged me?
· Did I feel uncomfortable in any ambiguous situations?
The underlying skill you are practicing here is the ability to observe how you think and to discern what may be influencing your thoughts. Is there a past experience or possible bias that is playing a role? How much does stress or the need for speed factor in?
Practice 'why' questions. When looking at a situation, ask yourself why it happened, why it matters, and/or why a particular conclusion was reached. This habit encourages 'second looks' and slows us down to uncover underlying assumptions, potential biases, and hidden logic. This approach not only deepens our understanding but also stretches our ability to evaluate information from multiple perspectives.
Make AI your thinking partner. If we are not careful, our predisposition to cognitive laziness will drive us to pick the fast answers that come from AI models versus the deeper mental workout that comes from wrestling with complex ideas or considering underlying assumptions. But that doesn't mean AI can't play a role.
When used well, AI tools can be very effective critical thinking coaches, nudging us to consider new angles or refine our arguments. Always make sure you challenge AI by asking questions such as: How did you come up with that result? Why should I believe that what you are suggesting is correct? What questions should I ask to improve my critical thinking?
Bigger Comprehension
Thinking has always set humans apart—something to be taught, mastered, and celebrated. In 1914, IBM founder Thomas J. Watson declared 'THINK' as the mantra for the struggling machine organization, saying ''I don't think' has cost the world millions of dollars.'
We have arrived now at an incredible point when machines can think and learn in ways far surpassing human abilities. There are benefits to this—ways in which AI can make us all smarter. The key is to stay alert and grounded in what is uniquely human: the ability to examine an answer with clarity, to grasp what's around and underneath it, and to connect it to a bigger comprehension of the world around us.