AI is Easy. Thinking is Hard. Why Gen Z Must Choose Intention Over Convenience.

How mental noise, burnout, and over reliance on AI is shaping the next generation.

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“There’s always noise in our brains. We’re always on Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, etc and it pulls at us when we’re not on it. So even when you want quiet and to critically think, there’s no room to think. That’s why AI is appealing. Here’s another tool that you can use to not critically think. It’s convenient.”

This is what a college student expressed to reporters on Up First NPR: Higher Education’s AI Problem. Gen Z, is this not what so many of us are experiencing? The noise in the brain that lingers throughout the day? The constant pull back onto your phone even if you throw it across the room?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this concept of mental space. For me, reading, journaling, and writing have become increasingly harder than they used to be. Why take the time to do those things when there are easier options? I could watch shortform videos about whatever I’m interested in or plug my thoughts into AI and get a Linkedin post in seconds. Why would I give myself a disadvantage when everyone else already seems ahead of me?

We’re all catching ourselves saying “this would be easier if I just put into AI.” And it’s very hard to resist. I think I instinctively went to open ChatGPT at least 10 times while writing and editing this post. There’s a very real culture of burnout, toxic-achievement, and overcommitment amongst Gen Z that is continuing to grow in the age of AI. I mean, when you’re worried about the cost of living and the world seems like it's crumbling around you, you go towards optimizing places in your life you seemingly can control. For students, that’s getting those perfect grades. For young professionals, getting praised for your work. And if AI is going to get you there faster, then why do it the hard way?

The reality is that AI is a double edged sword, especially for younger learners and early professionals.

Using AI to help cut through the mental fog more easily and get your work done faster may seem like a success, but we are sacrificing training our brains with critical thinking skills. And critical thinking is the number one skill that employers will be looking for in the age of AI (and not to mention critical for the health of our democracy and civil society at large…).

Using AI as a critical thinking replacement is like going to the gym, taking a pic holding a weight and walking out, rather than actually lifting the weights and building muscle. In the long run, what will you actually have to show for your abilities?

Doing the hard work now is essential to achieve what you really want to achieve in the long run.

Listen, using AI is inevitable, but it’s how we use it that really matters. And we definitely don’t have to promote false dichotomies – it isn’t AI or Bust, or Ban or Lose Thinking Skills.

Incredible teachers are beginning to adapt their classrooms to promote critical thinking while still preparing students in the age of AI. One teacher on the podcast notes that she has begun to make students intentionally submit 2 essays, their original work and what AI gave them when they entered their original work. She is having them analyze what the AI changed and why it may have made those changes. Other teachers permit AI for outlines while returning in-person “blue book” writing tests.

Overall, no matter who you are, or who you interact with, we should all be modeling responsible and irresponsible uses of artificial intelligence for ourselves and those around us.

Gen Z, we can’t let AI and its effects on our lives just happen to us – it’s something we should be deliberately choosing to understand and co-create. If we don’t take an active role in shaping how AI shows up in our personal lives, classrooms, workplaces, and communities, someone else will decide for us. And that’s not the kind of future we’re settling for.

At CU, we’re already seeing what’s possible when young people lead with intention. From gender-equitable AI initiatives to youth-centered research and nationwide advocacy, our fellows are showing the world what responsible, empowering AI ecosystems can look like. They’re choosing to cut through the mental fog with hard work, critical systems-thinking, and a passion for making this world a better place for us all.

Are you being deliberate about how AI is used in your life? If you’re exploring AI, rethinking education, or designing tools for early professionals, share below! I’d love to amplify and learn from you.