Are you worried about losing cognitive skills because of the widespread take-up of AI tools?
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you → lose → tools
If so, you’re not alone.
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you → ’re → ?
Many of us fear AI weakens independent thought, creativity and learning, especially among young people who may rely on it to think for them.
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who → fear → them
Research from an October 2025, Roy Morgan Snap SMS survey reveals 65 per cent of Australians are increasingly concerned about artificial intelligence, up 8 per cent since 2023.
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cent → reveal → 2023
The survey of 2568 respondents found 20 per cent fear the loss of critical thinking and creativity.
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cent → find → thinking
Originality, uniqueness and creativity
These concerns are particularly heightened among young people.
Isabella Halusek, 21, juggles three casual jobs to get her through her film study degree at Sydney University.
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Halusek → heighten → University
While applying for full-time work, Halusek is concerned about the amount of AI content she is expected to use in roles of editing, content-based writing and media.
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she → apply → editing
She finds the application process discouraging, particularly where the job states that AI use is expected or a requirement to assist in the position.
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use → find → position
“As students we’ve learned skills to prepare us for these positions.
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we → learn → positions
Yet, I feel like I am compromising them and losing them over to AI, when I can do it myself.”
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I → feel → it
As for the future, her fear is she will lose her originality, uniqueness and creativity which she says, makes writing and creative work stand out.
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writing → lose → originality
“I feel a lot of things will become one and the same when it’s done by AI.
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it → feel → AI
It’s just recycling old ideas and there’s no room for people to come in with fresh thoughts.”
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people → recycle → thoughts
She adds that AI is making everything boring.
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everything → add → ?
“Nothing is new any more, that’s worrying.
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that → ’ → ?
All my life I’ve had this vision about my career, and what I wanted to do, that vision isn’t what it once was and it’s discouraging.”
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it → have → what
Passive use weakens creativity
AI marketing strategist, Deb Szabo uses AI daily but does not hand over the critical thinking she is responsible for.
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she → weaken → thinking
Her concern is not that AI automatically takes away writing, planning or idea skills.
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AI → take → skills
It is that passive use can weaken these if someone accepts the first answer without questioning it.
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someone → weaken → it
If an employee refuses to use AI, dismissing them is not automatically lawful.
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dismissing → refuse → them
“I start with my own objective, experience and judgement, then use AI to challenge assumptions, organise information, identify gaps and speed up execution.
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I → start → execution
That way I remain responsible for the decision and the final voice.”
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I → remain → decision
AI can increase capacity and improve thinking.
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AI → increase → thinking
“It should never replace curiosity, context or critical judgement.”
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It → replace → curiosity
She offers the following tips to employers who expect employees to use AI.
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employees → offer → AI
- Ask staff where the bottlenecks are.
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bottlenecks → ask → staff
What repetitive tasks take them away from the skills they value and the work they do best?
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they → take → skills
If they had an assistant, what tasks would they hand over?
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they → have → tasks
Those administrative and repetitive tasks are often the best place to introduce AI.
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tasks → introduce → AI
Be clear that the employee remains responsible for the objective, ideas, creative judgement and final approval.
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employee → remain → objective
AI is there to help their expertise, not replace it.
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AI → help → it
“For example, an interior designer’s goal isn’t to surrender their artistic flair to AI.
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goal → surrender → AI
It is to reduce the quoting, proposals and admin work so they have more time to design beautiful spaces,” she adds.
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she → reduce → spaces
Legal rights
Joel Hayden, practice group leader at Legal Vision said employers can generally require staff to use AI tools if the direction is lawful, reasonable and connected to the job.
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direction → say → job
“That does not give employers a free hand.
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That → give → hand
The direction should fit the role, be supported by training, and deal with risks such as confidentiality, copyright, accuracy and client disclosure,” said Hayden.
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Hayden → fit → confidentiality
If an employee refuses to use AI, dismissing them is not automatically lawful.
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dismissing → refuse → them
“The employer would need to show the requirement was reasonable, the employee was clearly told what was expected, and any concerns were properly considered.”
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concerns → need → ?
The Fair Work Commission recognises that failing to follow a lawful and reasonable direction can be a valid reason for dismissal, but the process still matters.
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process → recognise → dismissal
“A dismissal can still be harsh, unjust or unreasonable if the employer acts too quickly or ignores legitimate concerns.”
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employer → act → concerns
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
