Using ChatGPT while writing? Your brain might not work as hard, says MIT

Technology Dec 22, 2025

MIT researchers found that students who used ChatGPT to write essays had the lowest brain engagement and performed worse on language and thinking tasks, compared to those using Google Search or writing without any help.

Writing without tools keeps your brain sharper

Students who wrote essays on their own showed stronger brain activity linked to creativity and memory.
Those using Google Search were in the middle, while ChatGPT users felt less connected to what they wrote.

When you use AI matters for your memory

If students started with ChatGPT and then tried writing alone, their brains stayed less active—almost like they skipped a step in learning.
But if they wrote first and used ChatGPT later, their brains stayed more engaged.
So, when you bring AI into the process, it could actually impact how well you learn long-term.