Source: Marginal REVOLUTION
A pre-registered NBER study found that workers using AI tools showed degraded performance on subsequent unaided tasks—suggesting the technology automates reasoning rather than teaching it. The finding contradicts the optimistic narrative that AI acts as a tutor or cognitive aid. Instead of building capability, widespread AI use appears to erode the mental models professionals need to work independently, raising questions about whether it atrophies the skilled labor market it's meant to augment.