The Royal Observatory Greenwich has issued an urgent warning: the rise of instant AI answers could trivialise our intelligence. Director Paddy Rodgers argues we need to avoid over-reliance on technology that might erode our critical thinking skills.

While AI tools like AlphaFold2 have revolutionised scientific research, they also risk diminishing the human habit of questioning and evaluation. Early astronomers relied on doing things a machine wouldn't, creating vast data resources for future generations to verify new ideas.

In contrast, AI's current capabilities—whether predicting protein structures or generating photorealistic content—are rapidly advancing. But they come with limitations: quick AI responses might omit fundamental sources, making users more distant from reliable information.

Dr Anuschka Schmitt suggests that overreliance on such technology can negatively impact competencies and memory. However, generative AI tools are increasingly prevalent, replacing traditional search result snippets.