UC San Diego Alumna Vivienne Ming Warns Passive AI Use Risks Human Cognition

Vivienne Ming, a UC San Diego alumna who earned a bachelor’s in cognitive science in 2000, is a theoretical neuroscientist, inventor and entrepreneur. She recently published the book “Robot‑Proof,” in which she argues that the greatest danger of AI is not job loss but the erosion of the mental skills that make people valuable. Ming, who also holds advanced degrees in psychology from Carnegie Mellon, founded Socos Labs and serves as chief scientist for Possibility Sciences, a group focused on closing the “possibility gap” between imagination and reliable outcomes.

Ming cautions that AI development must not eliminate the human abilities that define us. In a UC Berkeley experiment, roughly 10 % of students adopted a questioning, collaborative approach with AI, a behavior she labels ‘cyborg.’ Those who simply accepted AI answers showed markedly reduced brain activity compared with peers who reasoned independently.

The findings suggest that passive reliance on AI can lead to measurable declines in cognitive engagement, while active interrogation of AI preserves or even strengthens thinking skills. Educators, employers and policymakers may need to design training that encourages users to challenge AI outputs rather than accept them at face value. Without such shifts, the widespread use of agentic systems could gradually weaken problem‑solving and creativity across populations.