The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers

“Specifically, higher confidence in GenAI is associated with less critical thinking, while higher self-confidence is associated with more critical thinking.”

Microsoft surveyed 319 knowledge workers and found the more they trust AI, the less they think critically. The work shifts from doing to checking. Microsoft sells Copilot to these exact workers. All of the data is self-reported.