The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into human cognition raises a fundamental question: does AI merely improve efficiency, or does it alter how we think? This study experimentally tested whether short-term exposure to narrow AI tools enhances core cognitive abilities or simply optimizes task performance. Thirty young adults completed standardized neuropsychological assessments embedded in a seven-week protocol with a four-week online intervention involving problem-solving and verbal comprehension tasks, either with or without AI support (ChatGPT). While AI-assisted participants completed several tasks faster and more accurately, no significant pre-post differences emerged in standardized measures of problem solving or verbal comprehension. These results demonstrate efficiency gains without cognitive change, suggesting that current narrow AI systems serve as cognitive scaffolds extending performance without transforming underlying mental capacities. The findings highlight the need for ethical and educational frameworks that promote critical and autonomous thinking in an increasingly AI-augmented cognitive ecology.

翻译：人工智能（AI）日益融入人类认知过程，引发了一个根本性问题：AI仅仅是提升了效率，还是改变了我们的思维方式？本研究通过实验检验了短期接触狭义AI工具是否会增强核心认知能力，或仅仅是优化任务表现。三十名年轻成年人参与了一项为期七周的研究方案，其中包含为期四周的在线干预，涉及问题解决与言语理解任务，参与者被随机分配至有AI支持（ChatGPT）或无AI支持的组别。结果显示，尽管AI辅助组的参与者在多项任务中完成速度更快、准确率更高，但在标准化问题解决与言语理解测试的前后测中未出现显著差异。这些结果表明，当前狭义AI系统仅作为认知支架提升任务表现，而未改变基础心智能力。研究结果强调了在日益增强的AI辅助认知生态中，亟需建立促进批判性与自主性思维的伦理与教育框架。