How To Use AI Without Turning Your Brain Off

Where do you stand on AI? Are you all in, a little nervous, or still figuring it out? Maybe you’re somewhere in the middle - curious, cautious, and ready to see what it really means for us. In this episode of But Are You Happy, hosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis go past the headlines to explore the psychology of AI. They look at how these tools aren’t just changing what we do - they’re changing how we think, solve problems, and even seek emotional connection. You’ll also learn: Why leaning on chatbots might be weakening your problem-solving skills How reflecting more and embracing messy drafts can protect your creativity Why AI can make us feel so “seen” How AI voices, not just text, can trigger the brain’s bonding chemicals Remember while Dr. Anastasia Hronis is a psychologist - this podcast isn’t a diagnostic tool, and the advice and ideas presented here should always take into account your personal medical history. If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support. Timestamps: 00:00:05 – Defining your relationship with AI: The three groups of users. 00:01:37 – Task efficiency vs. Higher-order critical thinking skills. 00:03:01 – Cognitive Atrophy: How underusing neural pathways weakens the brain. 00:04:39 – Information Overload: Why we struggle to store memories in the digital age. 00:07:09 – Designed to be Addictive: Legal precedents and AI algorithms. 00:08:22 – Sycophantic AI: Why ChatGPT is designed to please you, not challenge you. 00:11:23 – Asking an AI "Are you bad for me?" 00:13:50 – Training the Model: Reinforcement Learning with Human Feedback (RLHF). 00:16:10 – The 6-Question Checklist for intentional content consumption. 00:18:02 – Tips for a Healthy AI Relationship: Avoiding human-like AI voices and "struggling" first.