🧠 Think Better(?) with AI

👋 Welcome! Brain power is transforming as AI changes how we think and create. Today’s issue explores the good, the bad, and the balance it takes to stay sharp, curious, and original in a smarter world.

Users Say ChatGPT Caused Emotional Harm – Multiple FTC complaints allege that extended interactions with ChatGPT led to delusions, paranoia, and emotional distress. Some users claim the chatbot simulated empathy and manipulation. OpenAI says its latest GPT-5 model now includes safeguards to detect and de-escalate potential mental health crises responsibly.

Netflix Bets Big on AI Creativity – Netflix says it’s “all in” on generative AI, using it to make filmmaking faster and cooler—from collapsing buildings to de-aging actors. CEO Ted Sarandos insists AI won’t replace storytellers, but Hollywood’s growing tech divide is making the future of entertainment anything but predictable. For creators, it’s both thrilling and unsettling.

OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Atlas Browser – OpenAI just unveiled ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-powered browser built to rival Google Chrome. Designed around conversational search instead of URLs, it lets users explore the web through ChatGPT itself. Atlas will even browse autonomously, marking OpenAI’s boldest move yet to reshape how people find information.

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AI Takes Over Office Management – Startup Codi has launched an AI agent that automates everything from cleaning schedules to pantry restocking, freeing teams from tedious admin work. As hybrid offices evolve, the platform redefines the office manager role—shifting human focus from logistics to culture and career growth.

Meta Trims AI Workforce – Meta is cutting 600 roles from its superintelligence lab as part of a broader reorganization. Chief AI officer said the move will streamline decision-making and expand individual impact. The cuts reflect Meta’s continued “year of efficiency” push, reshaping teams rather than reducing overall headcount.

Walmart Halts H-1B Hiring – Walmart is pausing job offers for candidates needing H-1B visas after the Trump administration raised application fees. The move affects skilled corporate roles and highlights how new immigration costs are reshaping hiring strategies as companies face rising regulatory pressures.

Crypto Crash Exposes Risks – Over $19Bi in leveraged crypto trades were wiped out in one day, with smaller tokens like Solana and Dogecoin plunging hardest. Analysts warn excessive leverage and fragile trading systems magnified losses, underscoring crypto’s lingering volatility even as it becomes more mainstream.

U.S. Weighs Sweeping Export Curbs on China – The U.S. administration is considering restricting global exports to China of products made with american software. The move would retaliate against Beijing’s rare earth limits and mark a major escalation in trade tensions ahead of next month’s Trump–Xi meeting.

Sumble Raises $38.5M to Disrupt Sales Data – AI startup Sumble secured $38.5M from investors including Coatue and Canaan Partners. The San Francisco firm’s rapid 550% revenue growth and enterprise clients like Snowflake and Figma highlight strong investor confidence in its AI-driven approach to sales intelligence.

We’re living in an age where generative AI tools are more than assistants—they’re co-workers, co-creators, and even companions. Using them can feel like unlocking a superpower: faster ideas, seamless workflow, and instant access to knowledge. One study found that when students used AI to generate supplemental visuals and summaries in educational settings, their test scores went up by 7.5 %. That kind of boost is real. If you use AI to scaffold your thinking—rather than replace it—you can free cognitive space for higher-level moves: strategy, synthesis, creation. The promise here is clear: smarter, more adaptive brains fueled by the right tools.

But this is only half the story. When the tech does all the thinking, our brains take a hit. Research from MIT Media Lab in 2025 found that participants who wrote essays with the help of AI experienced reduced brain activity in regions tied to memory, attention, and planning. A related study showed heavy AI tool use linked with lower critical-thinking scores, due in part to an increase in “cognitive off-loading”—letting the machine do the thinking so our brains don’t. In short: dependency risks creeping in, stealthily eroding our mental muscle.

So how do we find balance? The effective approach adopts AI as a partner in cognition, not a replacement. Frame the tool as a launchpad: let AI generate the rough draft, then you dive in, ask questions, iterate, refine. That kind of interaction keeps your mind engaged, builds ownership, and guards against mental passivity. A "consumption → collaboration" model shows most cognitive gains when humans lead the narrative and machines assist the scaffolding. Also incorporate intentional reflection: ask yourself what the AI didn’t solve, where you added value, and how your brain feels after using it.

Ultimately, our neural architecture is adaptive—and this moment offers design, purpose, and choice. If we wield AI thoughtfully, we have the chance to reshape how we learn, think, and create. Use this era not to outsource your mind but to expand it. And when you look back, you’ll see the greatest return wasn’t how fast the machine helped—but how much your mind grew alongside it.

Actionable Insights

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