Image by Dollar Gill, from Unsplash

AI Reduces Critical Thinking Effort, Study Warns

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

A new study from Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft Research reveals that generative AI (GenAI) tools are reshaping critical thinking among knowledge workers, often reducing the effort required for analytical tasks.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

• Higher confidence in AI leads to less critical thinking; self-confidence increases it.
• Workers now focus on verifying AI outputs rather than gathering information themselves.
• Over-reliance on AI may diminish independent problem-solving and information synthesis skills.

The research surveyed 319 professionals, collecting 936 first-hand accounts of GenAI-assisted work, and found that confidence in AI strongly influences how users engage in critical thinking.

The study highlights a key trend: workers with greater confidence in AI tend to exert less critical thinking effort, while those with higher self-confidence in their own expertise engage in more critical analysis.

The findings suggest that users often rely on AI-generated content without thorough scrutiny, potentially leading to cognitive offloading—a process where individuals depend on external systems for cognitive tasks they would otherwise perform independently.

However, the nature of critical thinking is not disappearing but shifting. Instead of problem-solving from scratch, workers increasingly focus on verifying AI-generated information, integrating responses into their workflows, and overseeing AI-assisted tasks.

This role, described in the study as “task stewardship,” places users in a position of guiding and refining AI outputs rather than solely generating new content themselves.

The research also explores how AI influences decision-making and accountability. While AI tools streamline information gathering, reducing the effort needed for research, they also require workers to critically assess the reliability of AI outputs.

Participants reported being more likely to apply critical thinking when they had strong domain expertise, whereas those lacking confidence in their knowledge tended to trust AI suggestions with minimal review.

To mitigate over-reliance on AI, the researchers suggest designing GenAI tools that promote user engagement in critical thinking. Features such as feedback mechanisms to evaluate AI reliability, explicit controls for adjusting AI assistance, and prompts encouraging verification of AI-generated responses could help maintain users’ analytical skills.

Additionally, the study calls for training programs that equip knowledge workers with skills in AI oversight, ensuring they can assess AI-generated outputs effectively. Without such interventions, the researchers warn that GenAI may inadvertently weaken independent problem-solving abilities among professionals who rely on it too heavily.

The findings highlight a pressing challenge for AI developers and workplace leaders: balancing AI’s efficiency with the need to sustain human critical thinking.

As AI tools continue evolving, their design and implementation will play a crucial role in shaping how knowledge workers think, analyze, and make decisions in the digital age.

Image by Clint Patterson, from Unsplash

Man Who Hacked SEC’s X Account Pleads Guilty

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

The hacker who hijacked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) X account and posted false information about cryptocurrency regulations has pleaded guilty and now faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, as first reported by The Record .

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

• The hack spread false SEC approval of Bitcoin ETFs.
• Council used a SIM swap to hijack the SEC’s account.
• The false tweet briefly boosted Bitcoin’s price by $1,000.

Eric Council Jr., a 25-year-old from Athens, Alabama, admitted to conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and access device fraud in a plea deal entered on Monday. His sentencing is scheduled for May 16.

Council was arrested in October following an FBI investigation into the January 2024 breach, which briefly sent the price of bitcoin surging.

The SEC’s X account was compromised and used to post false claims about the approval of cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), misleading investors and triggering market fluctuations.

This tactic involves tricking a phone carrier into transferring a phone number from its rightful owner to a hacker’s SIM card. Once in control of the number, the hackers could reset passwords and access social media accounts.

The Record reports that the Justice Department stated that Council used forged identification documents to conduct the SIM swap. He allegedly created a fake ID with his own face but another person’s name and used it at an AT&T store in Huntsville, Alabama, claiming to be an FBI employee who had lost his phone.

After acquiring the new SIM card, he purchased an iPhone, inserted the SIM, and received two-factor authentication codes needed to seize control of the @SECGov account on X.

Later that day, Council returned the iPhone at another Apple store in Birmingham.

Court records also reveal that Council searched online for “SECGOV hack,” “how can I know for sure I am being investigated by the FBI,” and “how long does it take to delete telegram account,” as reported by The Record.

X confirmed at the time that the breach resulted from unauthorized access to a phone number linked to the SEC’s account rather than a direct security failure on X’s part. However, the indictment contradicts X’s claim that the account lacked two-factor authentication.

Prosecutors suspect Council and his associates were attempting to manipulate the cryptocurrency market.

The false tweet caused bitcoin’s price to spike by $1,000 before the SEC clarified the information was incorrect, sending the price tumbling by $2,000. Council was paid in bitcoin by his accomplices.

The Record notes that X continues to struggle with securing high-profile accounts from cryptocurrency-related hacks.

“The platform in question has become increasingly vulnerable to abuse, while simultaneously serving as a critical media tool for influencers, brands, and even governments,” said Tom Hegel, principal threat researcher at SentinelLabs, following a recent report on account takeovers.

Hegel noted that financial incentives for these attacks have grown, while security weaknesses persist. Recent high-profile breaches include attacks on accounts belonging to the Tor Project, NASDAQ, and others.