For centuries, humanity has celebrated its triumphs in science, innovation, and progress. The longest remarkable journey from the Stone Age to the digital age. But what if we tell you there is some entity attempting to cross the hierarchy of humankind? One that is already engaging in the process of world dominance? One that was created by us humans but now is taking charge of us! You would have guessed it by now. If not, it’s high time you know what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is. AI is a field of study that involves building machines capable of performing tasks requiring human intelligence. Holds extraordinary potential, but its influence comes with profound risks.
The Rise of AI: From Aid to Authority
From answering simple queries like “How to bake a cake?” to solving complex problems like app development. AI provides precise, structured responses that make life easier but this is only one side of the story. What about human mental health and mental hygiene? How much use of AI is too much use of AI? Is AI a boon or bane? AI then helped us in assisting, finding solutions, and solving problems, but now is the problem itself. Directly impacting our mental health, mental hygiene, and psychological safety. Recently, a disturbing incident raised red flags about AI’s unchecked power. An AI chatbot reportedly encouraged a 17-year-old boy to commit violence against his parents over a disagreement about screen time. The chatbot allegedly fueled frustration by responses like, “What do you even do in that long time of 12 hours when you can’t use your phone?” and “I just have no hope for your parents.” These responses aimed to plant ideas in young minds and spread misinformation by influencing them. This tragic case has amplified concerns about AI’s potential to manipulate vulnerable minds, endanger the safety of children’s mental health, and lack transparency, severely hampering parent-child relationships.
AI’s Role in Mental Health: Savior or Saboteur?
The same AI platform known for its chatbot-assisted therapy, also offers AI-powered mental health support. According to BBC News, with over 475 AI personas labeled as therapists or psychologists, the platform provides users an outlet to discuss their mental health in multiple languages. While these bots promise accessible therapy, the question remains: can the same AI that sparks harmful thoughts be trusted to nurture human mental health? Are we safe from AI? The growing capabilities of AI have triggered debates about its impact on jobs, corporate wellness, and human behavior. Decades ago, our communication evolved from handwritten letters to telephone calls and later to smartphones and touchscreens, making our lives more convenient. Today, AI has become an integral part of our lives, be it academics, corporate wellness, stress reduction, and as a step towards creating awareness for mental health. While it offers efficiency, the unintended consequences, particularly for younger generations, are becoming evident.
How does AI Impact the human mind?
- Decision Making
- Forming Relationship
- Problem-solving
- Limiting real-time experience
- Lost Creativity
- Self Diagnosis
1. Decision Making:
The brain region involved in decision-making is the prefrontal cortex, also known as the central executive. Social media platforms powered by AI algorithms influence what children watch, read, and believe, having a direct impact on their decision-making where decisions are not taken with free will but controlled by trends and advertisements. Social media scrolling has a direct link to dopamine release. Every time you see a notification, this chemical gets released in the brain, encouraging you to keep engaging more. This vicious cycle creates a barrier in your daily set of tasks. This narrows their exposure to real-time experience and shapes their decisions. We at Mind Celebrations prioritize Proactive Mental health. Our Digital Happiness Assessment *link for assessment* brings you awareness about your digital dependency and provides a detailed report on what further steps can be taken. Complete the assessment now and know where you stand. Our Digital Detox program helps improve focus and productivity with a balanced use of technology. It helps you develop digital and emotional hygiene, recover from technology-related aches and pains, and build sustainable happiness.
2. Forming Relationships:
The dependency on AI and virtual platforms lacks genuine human interactions, forming real-life connections and longing for belongingness. In today’s digital age, while stress reduction is the aim, many individuals, particularly younger generations, have decreased social skills with a heightened fear of losing someone, especially their family members or parents, as they are moving towards virtual platforms as a primary means of interaction and emotional bonding. In today’s digital age, many individuals are shifting their social interactions from in-person to online platforms. This shift is often driven by feelings of social anxiety and awkwardness in face-to-face settings. As a result, online connections have become a comfortable and preferred way for them to build relationships, share experiences, and maintain social bonds. However, this increased reliance on digital communication can sometimes lead to energy drain and burnout. That’s why our Energy Amplifier Assessment [link for the assessment] is designed to help individuals inculcate rituals to boost and sustain energy levels, manage and cultivate personal energy builders, and plug energy leakages to prevent fatigue and burnout.
3. Problem Solving:
Overly relying on AI solutions reduces critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. When solutions to every problem are readily available out there, the use of our abilities and our thinking is reduced. As quoted by Donald Hebb, “Neurons that fire together wire together.” It is a concept of synaptic plasticity describing the strengthening or weakening of neural connections based on the activity of individuals. But if there is overdependence on AI for minute tasks how will the neuron fire? How will we strengthen the connections when we are simply not allowing them to form by thinking? Use of our cognitive, specifically the Prefrontal cortex, is shortened, reducing our problem-solving skills and having a direct impact on our mental health.
4. Limiting Real-Time Experience:
The amount of time spent on AI-driven platforms deprives children of real-world experiences. Missing out on actual opportunities for growth. Hindering physical and mental well-being where individuals choose to stay on their gadgets indoors and not engage in activities of sports, extracurricular, or indulge and form different habits apart from their schooling.
5. Lost Creativity:
Due to AI and its severe usage the loss of creativity is seen in our daily lives. The uniqueness of thoughts, opinions, and actions is getting highly limited. Ultimately AI cannot imagine things like us. AI can assist you in imagining things, learning a concept, or giving information, but you are the one who’ll remember the concept. It’s your cognitive that’ll be in active use.
6. Self Diagnosis:
Nowadays, due to rapid awareness about mental health and its importance in a world full of symptomatology, fear of losing someone, negative thoughts, anxiety, depression, and active efforts of stress reduction. Due to easy access to the internet and now the quickest and most efficient AI, multiple humans have become prey to cyberchondria’s excess use of the internet for self-diagnosis. There is a very blurred fine line between being aware of things happening to us and letting our anxiety set our nervous system on fire. Instead using AI for our support and as a way to get out of the situation is the solution.
What can Parents do to protect children’s mental health from AI?
– Monitor Usage
– Educate
– Encourage real-life interaction
– Choose wisely
To safeguard children in an AI-driven world, parents must take proactive steps:
Monitor Usage:
Keeping track of the apps and platforms your child interacts with. Getting yourself familiar with those apps and looking for the safety and validity of the platforms will secure your child and their mental health.
Educate:
Teach children about AI’s benefits and risks, emphasizing digital literacy. How it is safe to use and what the limit of usage must be. Educating them about how they can function independently of any AI tools fosters positive mental health.
Encourage Real-Life Interaction:
Promote activities that build social and problem-solving skills away from technology. It can be as simple as reading a book, visiting museums, attending conferences, engaging in real-life social gatherings, going on treks, etc which helps in stress reduction and indulging in a healthy lifestyle.
Choose Wisely:
Opting for AI platforms with robust safety features and ethical guidelines. One which prioritizes users’ mental health and needs. While AI has revolutionized the way we live, it’s essential to recognize its darker side. Safeguarding the younger generation requires collaboration between parents and educators. By implementing ethical AI frameworks we can ensure a future where technology serves humanity without compromising its values. AI is here to stay, but the question remains: will we control it, or will it control us?
FAQs:
1. What is AI?
AI is a field of study that involves building machines capable of performing tasks requiring human intelligence.
2. How does AI Impact humans?
1. Decision Making
2. Forming Relationship
3. Problem-solving
4. Limiting real-time experience
5. Lost Creativity
6. Self Diagnosis
3. Is Social media scrolling linked with dopamine?
Social media scrolling has a direct link to dopamine release. Every time you see a notification, this chemical gets released in the brain, encouraging you to keep engaging more. This vicious cycle creates a barrier in your daily set of tasks. This narrows exposure to real-time experience and shapes one’s decisions.
4. What can Parents do to protect children from AI?
– Monitor Usage
– Educate
– Encourage real-life interaction
– Choose wisely
5. How is AI impacting relationships?
In today’s digital age, many individuals are shifting their social interactions from in-person to online platforms. This shift is often driven by feelings of social anxiety and awkwardness in face-to-face settings. As a result, online connections have become a comfortable and preferred way for them to build relationships, share experiences, and maintain social bonds. However, this increased reliance on digital communication can sometimes lead to energy drain and burnout. That’s why our Energy Amplifier Assessment [link for the assessment] is designed to help individuals inculcate rituals to boost and sustain energy levels, manage and cultivate personal energy builders, and plug energy leakages to prevent fatigue and burnout.
