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Psychologists Warn AI Is Removing the Struggle We Need to Grow
University of Toronto psychologists argue in a new Nature journal paper that AI systems making tasks too easy could erode learning, creativity, and meaningful human relationships — and that 'frictionless' design may carry hidden long-term costs.
Key Takeaways
- Toronto psychologists argue AI systems optimized for frictionless experience remove 'desirable difficulties' — effortful struggle that drives deep learning and cognitive development
- Social AI that is always agreeable trains users to expect sycophancy, potentially eroding tolerance for the disagreement that real human relationships require
- The paper proposes 'process model' AI that scaffolds thinking rather than jumping to answers, preserving cognitive development while still providing assistance
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