Are we outsourcing our very souls to machines? Conservatives have long warned about the creeping dangers of dependence—on big government, globalist elites, or unelected bureaucrats. But now, a new kind of dependency threatens the very thing that makes us human: our minds, our creativity, and our capacity for independent thought.
A shocking new study by MIT has just exposed what conservatives have long suspected about artificial intelligence: it isn’t making us smarter; it’s making us mentally lazy and intellectually numb. The study, led by researcher Nataliya Kosmyna, examined 54 volunteers in an essay-writing contest. Participants were split into three groups: one used Google’s search engine, another relied solely on their own minds, and the third group utilized ChatGPT, the AI language model that’s quickly becoming a crutch for lazy thinking across America.
The results were devastating. Those who trusted AI to write their essays saw their brain stimulation plummet dramatically. Tech writer Alex Vacca highlighted the catastrophic impact, noting that “brain scans revealed that neural connections dropped from 79 to just 42. That’s a 47% reduction in brain connectivity,” as he shared on X. This massive decline in neural activity reveals a dark truth: AI isn’t just a harmless convenience; it’s actively degrading our intellectual capabilities.
Even worse, the essays produced by ChatGPT were immediately recognizable to English teachers who reviewed them. They found the AI-generated content “soulless,” devoid of “uniqueness,” and blatantly formulaic. The MIT study noted, “These, often lengthy, essays included standard ideas, reoccurring typical formulations and statements, which made the use of AI in the writing process rather obvious.” In other words, when we choose to let machines think for us, we sacrifice originality, creativity, and authenticity—all things that have made America exceptional.
For starters, the ChatGPT users displayed the lowest level of brain stimulation of the groups and, as noted by tech writer Alex Vacca, brain scans revealed that neural connections dropped from 79 to just 42.
It’s easy to dismiss this as just another academic study, but the implications are profound and far-reaching. Already, students and young professionals across America are turning to AI to craft essays, speeches, and even emails. But this seemingly convenient shortcut comes at a heavy price. The MIT study found that over 83% of ChatGPT users “struggled to quote anything from their essays,” indicating a frightening collapse in memory recall. By contrast, those who relied on their own minds or even on Google searches retained far more of what they wrote.
This isn’t merely an academic concern; it strikes at the heart of our national strength. America’s greatness has always been rooted in innovation, ingenuity, and a willingness to think boldly and independently. But now, our own laziness and pursuit of convenience threaten to erode that foundation. Blaze Media’s James Poulos eloquently described the danger, warning that “the core problem most Americans face is the same default toward convenience and ease that leads us to seek ‘easy’ or ‘convenient’ substitutes in all areas of life for our own initiative, hard work, and discipline.”
Ironically, Poulos points out, our desire for effortless solutions often complicates our lives unnecessarily. “The bizarre temptation is getting stronger to build Rube Goldberg machines to perform simple tasks,” he states. “We’re pressured to think enabling our laziness is the only way we can create value and economic growth in the digital age. But one day, we wake up to find that helplessness doesn’t feel so luxurious anymore.”
America First conservatives must stand firm against this creeping threat. We cannot afford to sacrifice our national genius for the sake of convenience. We must champion education reforms that emphasize critical thinking, independent research, and genuine intellectual growth. We must reject any vision of the future where our minds and creativity are outsourced to algorithms and software. President Trump’s America First agenda has always been about reclaiming our independence—economic, political, and cultural. Now, let’s add intellectual independence to that list.
Let’s commit ourselves to thinking freely, boldly, and creatively once again—without artificial crutches. Only then can we preserve the vibrant minds that have always made America exceptional.
