AI will fundamentally reshape human cognition and identity by 2035, says study

Artificial intelligence will profoundly reshape what it means to be human over the next decade, according to a comprehensive new report from Elon University researchers. The study combines qualitative essays with insights from 301 global experts to examine how AI integration will transform human cognition, relationships, and identity by 2035. This research arrives at a critical inflection point in AI development, highlighting significant concerns about cognitive decline and social fragmentation alongside potential benefits for human enhancement.

The big picture: Expert opinion is starkly divided on whether AI will augment or diminish essential human capacities, with substantial concerns about fundamental changes to cognition and social dynamics.

• Half of surveyed experts predict AI will erode deep thinking capacity as automated systems handle increasingly complex cognitive tasks.
• Nearly half anticipate greater societal polarization as AI-powered content personalization and deepfakes further fragment shared reality.
• The report presents a complex forecast where AI simultaneously threatens human autonomy while potentially enhancing capabilities through ethical development.

Key cognitive concerns: Researchers identify significant risks to human intelligence and emotional capacity as AI integration deepens.

• 50% of experts expect diminished social and emotional intelligence as people increasingly interact with synthetic companions rather than navigating complex human relationships.
• AI-generated summaries and automated decision-making may reduce critical engagement with information and ideas.
• The convenience of AI assistance could atrophy cognitive muscles that previously developed through necessary mental effort.

Autonomy under pressure: Individual agency faces substantial threats in an AI-dominated future, according to the report.

• 44% of experts predict declining individual independence as algorithmic systems increasingly guide or override human judgment.
• The report warns of diminished autonomous decision-making capabilities as people defer more choices to AI systems.
• Personal identity itself may fragment as AI-mediated experiences reshape how people perceive themselves and their relationship to society.

Potential benefits: Some experts maintain optimism that ethical AI development could enhance rather than diminish human experience.

• AI could augment learning by providing personalized education tailored to individual cognitive styles and needs.
• Mental health care could become more accessible and effective through AI-powered therapeutic tools.
• Global collaboration might accelerate as AI helps overcome language barriers and cultural differences.

Why this matters: How we design, deploy and regulate AI systems today will determine whether technology enhances our essential human qualities or fundamentally alters what it means to be human in the coming decades.