GENERATIVE AI, COGNITIVE AUTONOMY, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING:

Abstract

The swift implementation of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the educational, professional, and daily routine of people has changed how information is obtained, problems are solved, and decisions are made by people. While it is obvious that the advantages of AI-enabled speediness and convenience should not be overlooked, issues related to the possible influence of such technological advancements on people's capacity for autonomous reasoning and psychological state have been raised recently. As a result, this exploratory qualitative research seeks to understand the opinions and perspectives of the users on how their cognitive processes, decision-making habits, and personal autonomy were affected by the use of generative AI technologies. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 35 people actively utilizing generative AI in their educational or professional activities. To analyze the data collected during interviews, thematic content analysis was applied to discover themes and patterns among participant's experience. According to the results, the use of generative AI appears to be connected with contradictory impacts on the participant's cognitive functioning. The participants considered the use of such AI technology a beneficial cognitive aid increasing their productivity, decreasing cognitive load, and facilitating learning. At the same time, the participants revealed their worries regarding their excessive dependence on the technology, declining interest in solving problems on their own, and inability to critically evaluate the provided information. The results also demonstrated both positive and negative psychological consequences of working with generative AI, such as a decrease in stress but a lack of self-confidence.