New user survey data from CerebrumIQ suggests a growing perception of cognitive decline among frequent AI users, extending beyond memory to include attention, decision-making fatigue, and reduced mental initiative.
According to a user survey conducted by CerebrumIQ, individuals who report daily use of large language models such as ChatGPT are significantly more likely to perceive a decline in core cognitive functions, especially short-term memory and sustained attention. Among the 18,000+ respondents surveyed globally, 63% of frequent AI users said they feel their memory has worsened over the past year, while 52% reported increased difficulty concentrating without digital assistance.
But the concerns extend beyond memory. A growing segment of users also reported difficulty generating ideas without external prompts (47%), increased reliance on structured suggestions for problem-solving (44%), and a sense of mental fatigue when faced with tasks requiring extended focus or internal reasoning (39%). These results suggest that many users are experiencing a broader shift in how they approach thinking itself.
Infrequent users of AI tools reported such concerns at lower rates, 41% for memory, 33% for attention, and under 30% for creative and decision-making functions, highlighting a correlation between tool dependency and perceived mental decline.
The data also reflects a growing behavioral trend: 70% of high-frequency users said they now turn to AI for information they would previously have tried to remember, and over 60% admitted to checking with AI tools even when they already knew the answer. This suggests not just forgetfulness, but a broader erosion of cognitive confidence.
Beyond memory and focus, several users also cited reduced mental stamina and difficulty maintaining independent thought. While these changes are harder to quantify, they point toward what researchers call "cognitive offloading", the habitual transfer of mental tasks to devices.
One user noted, "I used to pride myself on remembering client details without notes. Now I check ChatGPT to confirm things I already know, just in case." Another added, "It’s like my brain has stopped trying to hold onto information; it assumes I’ll just ask the AI again."
Memory, attention, creativity, and critical thinking are foundational to adaptive learning and problem-solving. When these faculties are regularly bypassed, the brain may reprioritize cognitive effort away from active processing and toward passive retrieval. This shift, while efficient in the short term, can weaken the resilience and depth of internal cognitive functions over time.
As artificial intelligence becomes embedded into daily workflows, personal productivity, and even social interaction, the challenge is not to reject these tools but to build habits that reinforce rather than replace essential mental capabilities. The CerebrumIQ survey findings suggest that with awareness and conscious effort, users can take active steps to preserve and restore critical cognitive abilities.
The shift toward digital dependence is not inherently negative. But it requires conscious counterbalance. As the CerebrumIQ findings show, awareness alone can prompt corrective behavior, and structured reinforcement can help users preserve the very abilities that make AI a complement, rather than a crutch.
About CerebrumIQ:
CerebrumIQ is a cognitive performance platform designed to strengthen mental skills through a blend of IQ testing, neural training games, intelligence puzzles, educational courses, and expert content. The assessments are calibrated to reflect standard IQ tests and used globally to track and enhance users’ thinking abilities. The platform, used by over a million people worldwide, offers more than 300 lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making, helping users develop essential life skills in a structured, engaging way. CerebrumIQ is redefining how people engage with their mental potential. Unlike entertainment-style brain games, Cerebrum IQ is a structured training ecosystem built to deliver lasting neural growth.
CerebrumIQ is a cognitive performance platform designed to strengthen mental skills through a blend of IQ testing, neural training games, intelligence puzzles, educational courses, and expert content. The assessments are calibrated to reflect standard IQ tests and used globally to track and enhance users’ thinking abilities. The platform, used by over a million people worldwide, offers more than 300 lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making, helping users develop essential life skills in a structured, engaging way. CerebrumIQ is redefining how people engage with their mental potential. Unlike entertainment-style brain games, Cerebrum IQ is a structured training ecosystem built to deliver lasting neural growth.