--- title: "ChatGPT Use Linked to Memory Loss, Procrastination in Students" description: "The study, which surveyed hundreds of university students, also found a link between heavy academic workload and increased ChatGPT usage." date: "2024-03-26" modified: "2024-03-26" authors: - name: "Frank Landymore" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/flandymore" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/chatgpt-memory-loss-procrastination" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" - "OpenAI" tags: - "chatgpt" - "generative ai" - "large language models" - "the digest" --- # ChatGPT Use Linked to Memory Loss, Procrastination in Students ![The study, which surveyed hundreds of university students, also found a link between heavy academic workload and increased ChatGPT usage.]() *\Image: Getty / Futurism\* ## Brain Drain New research has found a worrying link to memory loss and tanking grades in students who relied on ChatGPT, in an early but fascinating exploration of the [swift impact that large language models have had in education](). As detailed in a new [study]() published in the *International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education,* the researchers surveyed hundreds of university students — ranging from undergrads to doctoral candidates — over two phases, using self-reported evaluations. They were spurred on by witnessing more and more of their own students turn to ChatGPT. "My interest in this topic stemmed from the growing prevalence of generative artificial intelligence in academia and its potential impact on students," study co-author Muhammad Abhas at the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences in Pakistan [told *PsyPost*](). "For the last year, I observed an increasing, uncritical, reliance on generative AI tools among my students for various assignments and projects I assigned." ## Show of Hands In the first phase, the researchers collected responses from 165 students who used an eight-item scale to report their degree of ChatGPT reliance. The items ranged from "I use ChatGPT for my course assignments" to "ChatGPT is part of my campus life." To validate those results, they also conducted a more rigorous "time-lagged" second phase, in which they expanded their scope to nearly 500 students, who were surveyed three times at one to two week intervals. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the researchers found that students under a heavy academic workload and "time pressure" were much more likely to use ChatGPT. They observed that those who relied on ChatGPT reported more procrastination, more memory loss, and a drop in GPA. And the reason why is quite simple: the chatbot, however good or bad its responses are, is making schoolwork too easy. "Since ChatGPT can quickly respond to any questions asked by a user," the researchers wrote in the study, "students who excessively use ChatGPT may reduce their cognitive efforts to complete their academic tasks, resulting in poor memory." ## Two Way Street There were a few curveballs, however. "Contrary to expectations, students who were more sensitive to rewards were less likely to use generative AI," Abbas told *PsyPost*, suggesting that those seeking good grades avoided using the chatbot out of fear of getting caught. It's possible that the relationship between ChatGPT usage and its negative effects is bidirectional, notes *PsyPost*. A student may turn to the chatbot because they already have bad grades, and not the other way around. It's also worth considering that the data was self-reported, which comes with its own biases. That's not to exonerate AI, though. Based on these findings, we should be wary about ChatGPT's role in education. "The average person should recognize the dark side of excessive generative AI usage," Abbas told *Psypost*. "While these tools offer convenience, they can also lead to negative consequences such as procrastination, memory loss, and compromised academic performance." **More on AI:** *[Google's AI Search Caught Pushing Users to Download Malware]()* ## Author At Futurism, my work has often centered on bringing a sense of clarity and insight to complex topics ranging from the regulation of emerging technologies to the esoteric ideologies of Silicon Valley executives, while striving not to lose the poetic sense of awe inspired by often-obscure fields like astrophysics and quantum computing. I broke the story of CNET using AI to produce articles that turned out to be riddled with factual errors and plagiarism — a dam-breaking inflection point, as I've reported, that's inspired copycats and endless discourse while beguiling stakeholders ranging from tech giants to purveyors of spam around the web. My work at Futurism has been cited by publications including CBS News, the Los Angeles Times, Vice, Gizmodo, Engadget, the Verge, and Vanity Fair. I grew up in locales ranging from India to China, and now live in the exotic suburbs of Virginia. In my free time, I'm an avid reader of weird sci-fi literature, an aficionado of East Asian cinema, and, regrettably, a relapsed gamer. Allegedly, I’m working on a debut novel, currently untitled. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()