Whether you like it or not, whether you use it or not, generative artificial intelligence "took off". The technology has deeply changed how we do things. And how we think about things.
Currently, we are in the "AI agents" phase of this technology. At this level, AI does things for us, instead of just guiding us. Whether it does it well or not depends on factors such as: how much you paid to use the tool, how you guided the tool, and how the tool was developed.
It was a long journey to reach the current level – which is not necessarily good, but definitely advanced. The Digital Look spoke with experts about the impacts of AI on daily life after the boom of ChatGPT, which occurred at the end of 2022.
Check below the highlights from the interviews:
AI is "the most powerful and impactful technology of all time", says an expert
"We are talking about the most powerful and impactful technology of all time," says Roberto "Pena" Spinelli, a physicist from USP and an expert in Machine Learning from Stanford University.
"The era of assistants (2022 to 2025) was just the beginning. The jump will come in 2026, when these AIs become capable of performing tasks on the computer," analyzes Pena, referring to AI agents.
The advancement of AI made possible an unprecedented "intellectual use" of machines in the history of humanity – Image: SvetaZi/Shutterstock
"Of course, this impacts the user," says the expert. Pena explains that, on one hand, "removes cognitive friction, facilitates processes, creates solutions that would take a lot of time from the user".
On the other hand, "also removes cognitive friction, facilitates processes, creates solutions that would take a lot of time from the user," explains.
No, you didn't read wrong. The expert said the same thing twice.
"What I mean is that precisely this more intellectual use that we could never before delegate to machines is what forced us to develop our brain and our cognitive skills," explains Pena.
"When you remove this load, it's natural that it generates a cognitive deficit," adds the expert.
Using AI can help you think better – or not
The advancement of generative AI – that which generates text, audio, images – "changed the starting point of almost everything," says Geovanni Borsetto, a communications and marketing specialist at Paschoalotto company.
"Before, starting was the most difficult part, the blank page, the first draft, the first structure. Generative AI has drastically shortened this beginning," analyzes Borsetto.
Does this shortening make us dumber? "The tool doesn't leave anyone dumb," says the expert. For him, using AI "reveals how each person thinks".
"Those who already had the habit of critical thinking use AI to think more and better because it frees up time from operational to strategic," says Borsetto.
"Those who sought a shortcut to avoid thinking now have a more efficient shortcut – and there, the muscle atrophies," analyzes the expert.
Use of AI reveals how the user thinks, says the expert – Image: TANYARICO/Shutterstock
Pena followed a similar reasoning. "If you use AI as an intellectual exchange machine, it can expand your reasoning and take you further or help you understand things you couldn't (or would take a long time to find) before," says the expert.
When you have an Einstein in your pocket at all times, you can learn much more from him than you could before. However, it becomes very tempting to just ask him to solve the entire problem—after all, he is Einstein.
Roberto "Pena" Spinelli, a physicist from USP and a Machine Learning expert from Stanford University, in an interview with Olhar Digital.
Pros and Cons of AI
Generative AI, on its own, is neither savior nor villain. It is a resource. A tool. And, like any technology, it has pros and cons.
"The obvious pros are the wide reach and the great capacity the tool has, the possibility of optimizing countless tasks and processes," says Dr. Heitor Felipe, a doctor and neurology professor at Afya Educação Médica Goiânia.
"As for the cons, the risk of delegating too much to the tool, which can mean the loss of part of the sense of agency," adds the expert.
The doctor also warns: "Some intellectual mental effort is necessary to learn. When we fall into the temptation of delivering all that effort to an AI, it can hinder the process."
AI brought shortcuts for studies, but friction 'was part of how we learned,' says the expert – Image: SvetaZi/Shutterstock
Borsetto adds that AI brought shortcuts for two domains that still required cognitive effort: work and studies.
“This resistance that we were used to facing was never a problem. It was part of how we learned and fixed knowledge. It is in the effort of structuring a reasoning that we really understand a subject,” says the communication expert.
“We will need to reintroduce purposeful effort, just like food became so available that we had to relearn how to eat mindfully,” Borsetto adds.
Is there a 'healthy use' of AI?
What would be a 'good use' of AI? The report asked this question of the experts consulted. Check below their answers:
Erich Silva (automation projects expert and COO of Lecom): “I consider it healthy to use AI with a clear objective and continue participating in the reasoning. Use AI to save time and work, but keep reviewing the results. It's interesting to ask it to point out flaws in an idea, rather than just seeking confirmation. With this habit, I see potential to learn more, experiment with paths, and gain time for activities that deserve attention.”
Geovanni Borsetto (communication and marketing expert at Paschoalotto): “Healthy use is treating AI as a thinking partner, not as an oracle. It's using it to speed up operations, test ideas, find blind spots in your reasoning, but keep the decision and authorship with you. In my work, which is what I do every day, I use AI to get to a draft more quickly, and then comes the most important part, my critical eye, the context that only I have, the editing. AI gives me ten paths, I choose and refine one. The impact of using it this way, over time, is the opposite of bad use. The person becomes more productive and, at the same time, sharper, because they start to use their mental energy on difficult questions instead of repetitive tasks. AI becomes a multiplier for those who already think well.”
Roberto “Pena” Spinelli (Machine Learning specialist from Stanford University): “Look at the case of this interview. I could take these questions, reflect, use AI to discuss my ideas, find new perspectives, question my biases, refine my thoughts, and thus have better and faster answers, while improving my cognitive skills and expanding my worldview.”
Pedro Spadoni is a journalist graduated from the Methodist University of Piracicaba. He has written for websites, magazines, and newspapers.
Bruno Capozzi is a journalist, master in Social Sciences, and executive editor of OD.
