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仅仅是提高了效率，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工具是增强核心认知能力，还是仅优化了任务表现。三十名年轻成年人完成了一项为期七周的标准化神经心理学评估方案，其中包含为期四周的在线干预，涉及问题解决和言语理解任务，参与者分别在有无AI支持（ChatGPT）的条件下进行。虽然AI辅助组在多项任务中完成得更快、更准确，但在问题解决和言语理解的标准测量指标上未出现显著的干预前后差异。这些结果表明效率提升并未伴随认知改变，说明当前狭义AI系统作为认知支架，在扩展任务表现的同时并未改变基础心智能力。研究结果强调了在日益AI增强的认知生态中，建立促进批判性与自主性思维的伦理与教育框架的必要性。