During Pope Francis’s visit to Portugal in August 2023, thousands queued to confess to priests — a reminder of how, for centuries, humans turned to religious authority for guidance. Today, some thinkers argue, that role is increasingly being filled by artificial intelligence.
Commentators and researchers warn that reliance on AI tools for everyday decisions, from navigation and writing to personal and political choices, may signal a retreat from independent reasoning. The concern echoes ideas first articulated by Immanuel Kant, who described intellectual maturity as the courage to think without external guidance.
Since the launch of ChatGPT, AI adoption has surged. According to data cited by OpenAI, a majority of user prompts are unrelated to work, with writing and personal advice among the most common uses. Researchers say this growing dependence may come at a cognitive cost.
A recent study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that participants who relied on AI assistance while writing showed lower levels of brain activity and weaker recall of their own work compared with those who wrote unaided. Over time, some participants increasingly copied AI-generated text with minimal engagement.
Experts stress that while AI can enhance productivity and process vast amounts of data, it operates as a «black box,» producing answers without transparent reasoning. Critics argue that uncritical trust in such systems risks replacing reasoned judgment with a new form of faith — this time in algorithms rather than institutions.
The debate highlights a broader question facing modern societies: how to benefit from AI’s capabilities without undermining human reasoning, critical thinking and personal responsibility — values long seen as foundations of democratic life.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbekistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) could climb to $167 bn next year.
