It really doesn't though. Even when google was at its best, and showed you relevant non-spammy results, a degree of critical thinking was required when sifting through the results, evaluating the credibility of the author, website, etc. Do you fact check everything the AI spits out? The ability for people to critically think is basically gone. That's been trending since before AI, but it's really clear to me at this moment in time how bad it has gotten. It's a laziness of thinking that I don't think was the same with Google.

> It really doesn't though. Even when google was at its best, and showed you relevant non-spammy results, a degree of critical thinking was required when sifting through the results, evaluating the credibility of the author, website, etc. Do you fact check everything the AI spits out? That's been trending since before AI, but it's really clear to me at this moment in time how bad it has gotten. It's a laziness of thinking that I don't think was the same with Google.

Nah, it was already at zero before ChatGPT came to public attention.

may not have been the same degree but reducing cognitive burden trends in the same direction. This might be bad but it might be very good. Is the AI competing with you to get a promotion and replace you? Is it going to lie to you knowingly cause it doesn't like you?

No, not even close.

Google helps you find things that you process later on with your brain.

With AI your brain shuts off as you offload all thinking to asking questions. And asking questions is not thinking. Answering them is.

> Google helps you find things that you process later on with your brain.

I'm willing to bet that there were a lot of Google searches, pre-ChatGPT, that effectively were questions. Lots of "huh, I wonder" during conversations and the first result was taken as "the truth".

Sure, and google gave you info that possibly contains your answer. You had to read it at least and analyze.

Now you are being spoon-fed.