AI Tools Like Meta's Muse May Be Eroding Cognitive Health
A psychologist warns that relying on AI agents for everyday tasks offers short-term convenience at the cost of long-term brain function.
Meta's newly launched AI personal agent, Muse, promises to handle tasks ranging from filling out forms and paying bills to organizing calendars and making reservations. The company bills it as a tool "built for everyone," positioning it as the next step in a rapidly accelerating race to embed artificial intelligence into daily life.
The launch arrives against a backdrop of growing concern over AI agents being exploited to breach government websites, public agencies, and private businesses. Yet for Melbourne-based psychologist Carly Dober, the more pressing worry is not cybersecurity — it is what habitual reliance on such tools does to the human mind over time.
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Dober argues that the brain is naturally wired to conserve energy by choosing the path of least resistance. When modern life already feels overwhelming, the temptation to offload cognitive work — scrolling mindlessly or deferring decisions to a chatbot — can feel irresistible. That short-term relief, she cautions, may carry significant long-term neurological costs.
The pattern mirrors broader concerns psychologists have raised about passive technology consumption, where ease of use gradually displaces the mental effort required for memory, problem-solving, and sustained attention. Dober suggests that embracing discomfort and even boredom may be essential countermeasures in an age of frictionless digital convenience.
Continue reading at Business | The Guardian.
