Your child finishes assignments faster than ever… but are they actually learning anything?

In this Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack two alarming new studies on how AI is changing the way kids think, learn, remember, and make decisions. From “cognitive offloading” to “cognitive surrender,” they explore why students using AI remembered less, trusted wrong answers more, and became increasingly dependent on technology to do the thinking for them.

If AI is becoming our children’s autopilot instead of their co-pilot, what happens to critical thinking, confidence, and real learning?

This conversation will challenge the way you think about ChatGPT, schoolwork, and the future of parenting in an AI-driven world.

KEY POINTS
Why students using AI remembered significantly less information
The hidden learning deficit created by cognitive offloading
How AI can weaken confidence in our own thinking
The shocking number of people who follow AI advice even when it’s wrong
Why “doing it the hard way” still matters for growth
The difference between getting outcomes and building capability
What parents need to teach kids before AI becomes their default brain

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“If you’re going for the growth, do it the hard way.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
University of Pennsylvania research on “cognitive surrender”
Brazilian study on AI use and memory retention

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Encourage kids to use AI as a helper, not a replacement thinker
Ask children to explain ideas in their own words after using AI
Prioritise learning and understanding over speed and convenience
Talk openly about AI mistakes, hallucinations, and misinformation
Create opportunities for kids to solve problems without technology assistance

Your child finishes assignments faster than ever&hellip; but are they actually learning anything?
In this Doctor&rsquo;s Desk episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack two alarming new studies on how AI is changing the way kids think, learn, remember, and make decisions. From &ldquo;cognitive offloading&rdquo; to &ldquo;cognitive surrender,&rdquo; they explore why students using AI remembered less, trusted wrong answers more, and became increasingly dependent on technology to do the thinking for them.
If AI is becoming our children&rsquo;s autopilot instead of their co-pilot, what happens to critical thinking, confidence, and real learning?
This conversation will challenge the way you think about ChatGPT, schoolwork, and the future of parenting in an AI-driven world.
KEY POINTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why students using AI remembered significantly less information</li>
<li aria-level="1">The hidden learning deficit created by cognitive offloading</li>
<li aria-level="1">How AI can weaken confidence in our own thinking</li>
<li aria-level="1">The shocking number of people who follow AI advice even when it&rsquo;s wrong</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why &ldquo;doing it the hard way&rdquo; still matters for growth</li>
<li aria-level="1">The difference between getting outcomes and building capability</li>
<li aria-level="1">What parents need to teach kids before AI becomes their default brain</li>
</ul>
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
&ldquo;If you&rsquo;re going for the growth, do it the hard way.&rdquo;
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">University of Pennsylvania&nbsp;<a href="https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/study-do-what-chatgpt-tells-us">research on &ldquo;cognitive surrender&rdquo;</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.psypost.org/chatgpt-acts-as-a-cognitive-crutch-that-weakens-memory-new-research-suggests/">Brazilian study on AI use and memory retention</a></li>
</ul>
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Encourage kids to use AI as a helper, not a replacement thinker</li>
<li aria-level="1">Ask children to explain ideas in their own words after using AI</li>
<li aria-level="1">Prioritise learning and understanding over speed and convenience</li>
<li aria-level="1">Talk openly about AI mistakes, hallucinations, and misinformation</li>
<li aria-level="1">Create opportunities for kids to solve problems without technology assistance</li>
</ul>

The Happy Families Podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now. Every day Justin and his wife Kylie provide practical tips and a common sense approach to parenting that Mums and Dads all over the world are connecting with. Justin and Kylie have 6 daughters and they regularly share their experiences of managing a busy household filled with lots of challenges and plenty of happiness. For real and practicable advice from people who understand and appreciate the challenges of a time poor parent, listen to Justin and Kylie and help make your family happier.

The Happy Families Podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now. Every day Justin and his wife Kylie provide practical tips and a common sense approach to parenting that Mums and Dads all over the world are connecting with. Justin and Kylie have 6 daughters and they regularly share their experiences of managing a busy household filled with lots of challenges and plenty of happiness. For real and practicable advice from people who understand and appreciate the challenges of a time poor parent, listen to Justin and Kylie and help make your family happier.

The Happy families podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now.

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

AI Reduces Memory

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/c2ddaaed-3df5-44ee-92cc-b43d008bb398/transcript