💡 Use It or Lose It (Issue 126)
This cognitive skills problem is very real
Yesterday, I came across this post in my LinkedIn feed. I couldn’t help but respond, even though I expected a few AI lovers to attack me in the comments.
Thankfully, no one did attack me, and I’ll note that Venkat was gracious in his response to my comment, too.
My comment:
"Yet, no one says we’ve lost our ability to communicate or travel."
Actually, a lot of people do say that.
He was kind of proving the point with his maps and phone numbers examples. I recall one international trip when I became too complacent and accustomed to using my phone for everything.
The problem was that my phone messed up after I landed and got into my ride.
Besides a vague location in a nearby town, I couldn’t tell the driver where to go.
I hadn't memorized the exact address of my destination.
I couldn't make a call.
I couldn't access the internet.
I couldn't even pull up my itinerary.
I had stopped printing paper copies years ago.
I finally persuaded the driver to let me use his phone, which he was very reluctant to do. I called my wife's mobile, the one number I do have memorized.
Luckily, she was able to text the details to my driver's phone and call our carrier to get my service working again. Disaster averted!
That day, I learned a valuable lesson: Never be 100% reliant on technology and lose your skills. Occasionally, challenge yourself to do things without tech assistance.
Use it or lose it is real. I know way too many people who couldn't navigate, communicate, or create without leaning hard on tech. Now, it’s getting to where people feel like they can’t write, search, code, or get any of their work done without their favorite AI service.
That’s not good.
AI is just a tool, like any other technology we have adopted. I should be clear about something: I’m not a Luddite. I do use AI, but I don’t start my tasks with it, and I don’t rely 100% on it or trust it entirely since it still makes lots of mistakes (e.g., AI chatbots keep failing every accuracy test thrown at them).
I force myself to start a task by using my personal brainpower first. I brainstorm ideas, jot down notes (even on paper, gasp!), create outlines, sketch ideas and diagrams, research online, talk with people, etc. Only later will I use AI to review things, make suggestions for improvements, spell check, summarize stuff, etc.
I even do this with navigation, driving, and hiking. I’ll look at a destination on the map and navigate there as much as possible without using Google Maps or All Trails to give me turn-by-turn guidance unless I get lost.
I also do my best to memorize things and test my memory before pulling up a list to make sure I didn’t forget something (e.g., when I’m grocery shopping).
Why do I do all these silly things? Well, for the same reasons that I lift weights, exercise, run, hike, ski, and ride a non-electric bike. I push my body to maintain muscle mass and fitness levels and stay physically capable for as long as possible as I age. Use it or lose it!
Similarly, research has shown that games, puzzles, and other types of brain training (e.g., forcing yourself to be creative) may help slow memory loss and other mental problems as we age.
Sure, AI is being leveraged to create some pretty useful tools. But don’t become so dependent on it that you lose the most powerful and valuable tool you have: your own brain.
I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become invincible, and create new opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate!
📕 Check out my new The Invincible Daily Journals!
