Is AI Giving Kids Brain Rot? What Parents Need to Know About Cognitive Atrophy

According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, 64% of teens report using generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT for everything from homework help to companionship. But a startling concern is emerging among experts. Early research suggests that overreliance on generative AI could lead to cognitive atrophy and the loss of brain plasticity. Or, as the kids say: brain rot. 

As a parent who is determined to teach my kids how to use AI responsibly, I’ve been watching this issue closely. Here’s what to know about how overusing AI impacts the brain and how to protect your child’s cognitive abilities in the face of this new technology.    

What are the cognitive dangers to kids from overreliance on AI?

Generative AI is in its infancy, and so is the research on this topic. But cognitive offloading is likely to blame for AI’s impact on kids’ cognitive health. 

Cognitive offloading happens when people use external tools or resources to reduce mental effort. On the one hand, this process can help people accomplish tasks faster. On the other hand, all of that offloading can be harmful for developing brains.

1. Using AI hinders skills such as writing and reasoning

Experts suggest cognitive offloading erodes critical thinking and reasoning skills. 

When AI always provides the answers, kids miss out on the opportunity to develop foundational life skills like problem-solving and deep thinking. 

For example, learning to write is deeply intertwined with learning to think. However, offloading writing tasks degrades students’ ability to organize and express their thoughts.

2. Overuse of AI weakens the way the brain absorbs information

When kids offload tasks to AI without doing any leg work, their ability to perform independent research and analyze materials decreases. Students end up with only a superficial understanding of information — they can state the what, but don’t grasp the why or how. 

3. Children and teens are the most vulnerable

Research has shown that younger users demonstrate a higher dependence on AI tools when compared to older users, and that the corresponding decline in their critical thinking is also greater.

The brain is particularly malleable during childhood and adolescence, making kids and teens especially vulnerable to the impacts of AI.

Because younger children are more likely to anthropomorphize, or assign human properties to inanimate objects, experts suggest that even simple praise from an AI chatbot can greatly change their behavior.  

How can I help my child use AI in a healthy way? 

The sooner you start teaching your child to use AI smartly, the more you can buffer its effect on their brain. 

1. Help your child build AI literacy 

To help your child gain AI literacy, teach them:

• How AI tools work. Here’s a great primer for kids. 
• AI can be wrong. From hallucinations to faulty data to fraud, AI doesn’t always get the facts straight. 
• AI contains bias. AI is trained on data from humans, and humans are inherently biased. Therefore, so is AI. 
• How overuse of AI can impact their brain. Ask open-ended questions like, "AI can give quick answers, but what do you think happens to our brains when we don't have to work hard to solve things?"

2. Teach your child to use AI as a tool, not a crutch

AI isn’t inherently harmful. The key is using it to support thinking, not replace it. Encourage your child to:

• Generate their own ideas. 
• Limit their use of AI, and explain that moderation is key.
• Use AI as a starting point for research, but independently verify facts.
• Write first drafts themselves to gain the cognitive benefits of organizing and expressing their thoughts.
• Focus on using AI to improve productivity rather than offloading thinking.
• Think critically about the material produced by AI.

3. Model a balanced approach to AI

• Examine your own use (or overuse) of AI.
• Openly question the information you encounter on AI.
• Maintain a curiosity mindset and let your kids see you engaging in activities and pursuits without the use of AI.

How BrightCanary helps you monitor your child’s AI use

BrightCanary helps you monitor how your child engages with AI by scanning everything they type on their iPhone or iPad. Use it to: 

• Monitor their activity across every app. 
• Access summaries of their activity.
• Read full transcripts when you need more details.
• Get real-time alerts if your child types anything concerning on an AI platform (or any other app). 

In short 

Overreliance on generative AI may lead to a decline in cognitive skills such as critical thinking, reasoning, and the ability to analyze and understand information. Because their brains are especially malleable, children and teens are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of AI on the brain. It’s important to teach your child AI literacy, show them how to use the tool responsibly, and monitor how they use it. 

BrightCanary helps you monitor your child’s activity on the apps they use the most, including all AI platforms. Download today to get started for free.