Research indicates that using AI has a lasting impact on the brain's neural connectivity. [Your Brain on ChatGPT](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2506.08872) investigates the comparative impact on cognitive engagement of using a LLM AI assistant (ChatGPT), a traditional search engine, and no digital tools at all for an essay writing task. It found that brain-only users showed the strongest and most distributed neural connectivity, whilst LLM users showed the weakest. This degradation within LLM users appeared immediately (in session 1) and was found to continue even after participants stopped using LLMs. However, it was not found to worsen over the four sessions, suggesting a rapid onset and stable plateau. LLM users also reported lower ownership of their work and struggled to quote it. Whilst potential limitations of this research include a modest sample size (54 participants) and a short study period of four months, these findings highlight the risk of using AI and suggest a need to consciously engage mentally in order to maintain neural connectivity. Source: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2506.08872