B2BVault's summary of:

Lesser Apes

Published by:
The Generalist
Author:
Mario Gabriele

Introduction

As AI grows smarter, humans risk growing mentally lazy. The question is no longer what AI can do, but what we’ll stop doing.

What’s the problem it solves?

The article explores a deep concern: while AI can make life easier, it might also weaken our ability to think, learn, and create. If we let AI handle too much of our mental work, we may lose the very skills that make us intelligent and adaptable.

Quick Summary

Mario Gabriele draws a parallel between humans and domesticated animals whose brains shrank once they stopped facing challenges. He argues that we, too, risk "mental domestication" as we depend more on machines to think for us. While AI brings incredible promise, such as safer cars, faster healthcare, and easier work, it also tempts us to skip the effort of real thinking.

Studies already show declining focus and literacy among young people and adults alike. Many teenagers no longer read full books, and a large share of adults haven't read a single book in a year. These trends began before ChatGPT, suggesting that AI is not the only cause but it could make things worse.

Gabriele introduces the idea of "competitive" versus "complementary" tools. The abacus makes you smarter by working with you. AI tools, however, often think for you, replacing rather than strengthening mental effort. When students or professionals use AI to do the hard parts of their work, their cognitive "muscles" weaken. The result is a creative dullness spreading through everything, from emails to art to thought itself.

He ends with a call to resist this decline. To protect our minds, we must stay "feral" - curious, active, and willing to struggle through complex ideas. Real thinking takes time, boredom, and imperfection, but those are precisely what keep us human.

Key Takeaways

  • AI is making life easier but risks weakening human thinking.
  • Cognitive decline started before AI but may accelerate with it.
  • "Competitive" AI replaces thinking, while "complementary" AI supports it.
  • Mental laziness spreads socially because our shared information environment shapes everyone’s cognition.
  • The cure is deliberate resistance: read, write, think, and create without shortcuts.

What to Do

  • Read long, difficult books instead of summaries.
  • Write by hand or from scratch to strengthen your thought process.
  • Avoid relying on AI for deep or creative work.
  • Practice focus - do one task at a time and finish it.
  • Challenge yourself with mental math, debates, or slow, complex media.
  • Have meaningful human conversations and think independently.
  • Be mindful of what you consume - protect your attention like it’s your most valuable resource.

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