{"id":15556,"date":"2025-10-15T09:43:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T07:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/uncategorized\/i-click-therefore-i-know-wisdom-in-the-age-of-ai\/"},"modified":"2025-10-16T13:06:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T11:06:54","slug":"i-click-therefore-i-know-wisdom-in-the-age-of-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/it-and-technology\/i-click-therefore-i-know-wisdom-in-the-age-of-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udd12 I click, therefore I know? Wisdom in the age of AI"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Once we thought people were stupid because they didn’t have access to information. Then the internet came along and it turned out that people were still stupid, even though they had unlimited access to knowledge.” This anonymous quote likely originates from the early century when we witnessed the explosive growth of the internet and the consequent access to knowledge and information on an unprecedented scale. Instead of laboriously wading through encyclopedia pages, a simple search query sufficed. Instead of waiting for a TV program, we could search for the information we were interested in on our own.<\/p>

Now we have moved even further. ChatGPT or Gemini can generate a detailed report on any topic in just a few seconds. All you need to do is type in a question to receive an answer from any field on any subject. Does such unrestricted access to information truly make us wiser? Or does it strip us of the ability to think independently and critically?<\/p>

A historical perspective<\/strong><\/h4>

The ancient Greeks made a crucial distinction between different forms of knowledge. In the dialogue “Theaetetus,” Plato differentiated episteme (certain scientific knowledge) from doxa (opinions, beliefs). Aristotle added to this by introducing phronesis \u2014 practical wisdom, the ability to make the right decisions in specific situations.<\/p>

Episteme \u2014 pure, objective, mathematical, algorithmic knowledge, where AI shines, and phronesis \u2014 deep, human, life wisdom that remains beyond the reach of machines.<\/p>

AI excels in the realm of episteme. It collects facts, processes data and generates responses. However, phronesis remains a human domain \u2014 it’s the art of making the right decisions in complex life situations. It also relies on intuition, experience and emotions.<\/p>

Information overload<\/strong><\/h4>

In 2011, Martin Hilbert and Priscila L\u00f3pez published a study in the Science magazine revealing that the amount of information processed by humans has skyrocketed \u2014 from 2.6 exabytes in 1986 to 295 exabytes in 2007. Just to put it in perspective, one exabyte equals one trillion bytes. This massive increase in processed information has a significant impact on human working memory. Our brains have a limited capacity to handle information and overload can lead to poorer decision-making and a decrease in learning efficiency.<\/p>

Moreover, research conducted by Paul A. Kirschner and Pedro De Bruyckere’s team in 2017 challenges the widely held belief that multitasking is effective in the digital age. Their analysis showed that attempts to process multiple streams of information simultaneously lead to:<\/p>

  • 40% drop in productivity<\/li>\n\n
  • increased cognitive stress levels<\/li>\n\n
  • reduced ability for deep information processing<\/li><\/ul>

    In his book “The Shallows,” Nicholas Carr warned that the internet is fundamentally changing the way we think, making us more distracted and superficial. Artificial intelligence might amplify this effect even further.<\/p>

    In a world where every question gets an immediate answer, we lose several abilities:<\/p>

    • deep reflection<\/li>\n\n
    • independent problem solving<\/li>\n\n
    • critical thinking<\/li>\n\n
    • creative wandering<\/li><\/ul>

      A neurobiological perspective<\/strong><\/h4>

      Recent research in cognitive neuroscience reveals the remarkable complexity of the human cognitive process, which is fundamentally different from the mechanisms of artificial intelligence. At the heart of this difference is the unique architecture of the human brain, which has evolved over millions of years in response to complex environmental and social challenges.<\/p>

      Daniel Kahneman in “Thinking, Fast and Slow” introduces the theory of two systems of thought:<\/p>

      System 1: fast, intuitive, emotional, older from an evolutionary point of view, operates below the threshold of consciousness and is responsible for immediate reactions and what’s known as “tacit knowledge.”<\/p>

      System 2: slower, more thoughtful and logical, younger from an evolutionary point of view, conscious, energy-consuming, responsible for analytical thinking.<\/p>

      Despite its impressive computational power, AI operates exclusively in a domain similar to System 2, while human wisdom requires the integration of both systems. This fundamental limitation of artificial intelligence has profound implications for the learning process and the acquisition of wisdom.<\/p>

      In his book “Descartes’ Error,” Antonio Damasio demonstrated that emotional processes are inseparably linked with what is known as rational thinking. His research on patients with brain damage affecting emotional areas showed that despite retaining full intellectual abilities, they were unable to make wise life decisions.<\/p>

      Moreover, recent studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) show that when we engage in deep learning and acquire wisdom, various brain areas are activated simultaneously:<\/p>

      • The prefrontal cortex is in charge of planning and decision-making<\/li>\n\n
      • The limbic system processes emotions and memories<\/li>\n\n
      • The hippocampus is key to long-term memory consolidation<\/li>\n\n
      • The insular cortex blends bodily experiences with cognition<\/li><\/ul>

        This all forms what Gerald Edelman called “higher-order consciousness” \u2014 the ability to reflect on our thoughts and experiences, which is fundamental for developing true wisdom.<\/p>

        Our brain does more than just process information \u2014 it actively creates coherent narratives from incoming data. This sense-making ability is a key element of human wisdom that cannot be reduced to simple information processing.<\/p>

        Wisdom vs. Knowledge<\/strong><\/h4>

        In the era of artificial intelligence dominance, distinguishing between knowledge and wisdom takes on extra significance. While knowledge might be seen as the accumulation of facts and information, wisdom is the art of understanding them within the broader context of human experience.<\/p>

        In “21 Lessons for the 21st Century,” Yuval Noah Harari emphasizes that in the world of AI, it isn’t so much the ability to absorb information that becomes crucial, but rather the skill to discern what is important from irrelevant information. This observation leads us to a deeper understanding of the nature of wisdom, which requires:<\/p>

        • contextualizing knowledge through personal experience<\/li>\n\n
        • critical reflection on our own assumptions<\/li>\n\n
        • ethical assessment of the consequences of actions<\/li>\n\n
        • empathetic understanding of other perspectives<\/li>\n\n
        • the ability to synthesize diverse information<\/li>\n\n
        • the ability to adapt knowledge to new situations<\/li><\/ul>

          Neuroplasticity and learning<\/strong><\/h4>

          Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to constantly reorganize and adapt, is a truly intriguing intersection between the biological basis of our existence and our cognitive capabilities.<\/p>

          Research into neuroplasticity, conducted by Michael Merzenich’s team among others, reveals significant implications for our understanding of the learning process in the digital age. Discoveries in the field of neuroplasticity point to:<\/p>

          The dynamic nature of neural connections:<\/p>

          • the brain constantly creates and modifies synaptic connections<\/li>\n\n
          • the intensity of using specific neural pathways affects whether they get stronger or weaker<\/li>\n\n
          • this process occurs throughout our entire life, not just during the developmental period<\/li><\/ul>

            The impact of the digital environment on brain structure:<\/p>

            • intense use of digital technologies can lead to permanent changes in the organization of the brain’s cortex<\/li>\n\n
            • excessive reliance on external sources of information can lead to the atrophy of certain cognitive abilities<\/li><\/ul>

              Getting deeply involved in certain activities can lead to significant changes in brain structure. In the context of AI, this raises a question: how does the continuous use of external cognitive systems affect the development of our natural abilities?<\/p>

              Our brain has the ability to adapt to new patterns of information processing, creating new neural pathways that align with the digital methods of cognition. At the same time, traditional information processing mechanisms might be weakened. Therefore, finding a balance between using technology and developing natural human capabilities becomes crucial.<\/p>

              Neuroplasticity can lead to both the strengthening and weakening of our cognitive abilities, depending on how consciously we guide the learning process. In the context of AI, this means there is a need for a strategic approach to using technology in the learning process, considering the long-term impact on our cognitive skills.<\/p>

              Artificial intelligence can be a catalyst for the learning process, a tool for organizing and categorizing information, a source of inspiration and new perspectives, or even an assistant for solving complex problems. However, it’s crucial to maintain a proper balance between using AI and developing our own cognitive abilities.<\/p>

              Summary<\/strong><\/h4>

              Everything becomes easy, effortlessly achievable, just within reach. But shouldn’t that stir a bit of defiance in us? Isn’t it concerning, in a way, that just a few keystrokes separate us from vast oceans of knowledge? Are we losing ourselves in this noise of data and information? Are we confining ourselves to one narrative delivered by our favorite LLM? A narrative that is inevitably simplified, limited to certain summaries and shortcuts because, after all, we don’t have time to read an entire book or even an article. It\u2019s easier to ask NotebookLM for key information and then dazzle with our presumed erudition. But we lose so much in the process. For instance, in literature, we often miss out on the wonderful language, wordplay, associations, the context on which the story is based. When we ask AI to summarize scientific articles, we don’t consider how and why researchers reached their conclusions.<\/p>

              Most people carry in their pocket access to all of human knowledge. Anyone can ask a machine anything at any moment. But does that mean people are wiser?<\/p>

              It’s not enough to know \u2014 we have to understand. It’s not enough to have access to information \u2014 we have to be able to tell the important details from the irrelevant information.<\/p>

              The future of human wisdom doesn’t lie in competing with AI but in consciously using technology to enhance our natural cognitive abilities while preserving what makes us truly human \u2014 the capacity for deep reflection, empathy and ethical action.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Wisdom doesn’t stem from the quantity of information, but from the ability to make sense of it. In a world full of ready-made answers, how can we nurture the skill of drawing our own conclusions?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":568,"featured_media":15540,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[803],"tags":[],"popular":[],"difficulty-level":[38],"ppma_author":[974],"class_list":["post-15556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-it-and-technology","difficulty-level-medium"],"acf":[],"authors":[{"term_id":974,"user_id":568,"is_guest":0,"slug":"zbigniew-rzepkowski","display_name":"Zbigniew Rzepkowski","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/zbigniew-rzepkowski-scaled.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/zbigniew-rzepkowski-scaled.jpg"},"first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":"Project Manager i AI Manager. \u0141\u0105czy \u015bwiat biznesu, technologii i humanistyki. Pisze o sztucznej inteligencji z perspektywy praktyka i obserwatora przemian \u2013 o etyce, geopolityce i wp\u0142ywie AI na cz\u0142owieka. W swoich tekstach szuka r\u00f3wnowagi mi\u0119dzy innowacj\u0105 a odpowiedzialno\u015bci\u0105. "}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/568"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15556"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15557,"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15556\/revisions\/15557"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15556"},{"taxonomy":"popular","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/popular?post=15556"},{"taxonomy":"difficulty-level","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/difficulty-level?post=15556"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haimagazine.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=15556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}