Internet Pioneer and Experts Warn: Overreliance on AI Could Erode Core Human Skills

Vinton Cerf, widely recognized as one of the “fathers of the Internet,” has joined a growing number of experts expressing concern that increasing dependence on artificial intelligence (AI) may weaken essential human abilities like empathy, critical thinking, and sound judgment.

“Humans may become overly reliant on AI systems, which are fallible and can go wrong,” Cerf told CNN. “It’s wonderful when they work. But it’s dangerous when they suddenly don’t.”

Cerf, 82, who co-developed the TCP/IP protocol—the foundation of the modern Internet—and currently serves as Chief Internet Evangelist at Google, believes AI will become deeply embedded in everyday life by 2035. Well before that, he says, people will begin to depend heavily on AI agents: digital assistants capable of doing everything from taking meeting notes and making dinner reservations to negotiating complex business deals or writing software code.

These tools could greatly improve efficiency and accelerate fields like medical research, Cerf said. But he warned of a growing risk if people become too dependent on these systems—especially if they malfunction or hide their own errors.

Cerf emphasized the need for transparency and auditability in powerful AI tools. Developers of large language models, he argued, should embed systems that allow users to trace how and why the AI produced a specific output. He also called for clear labeling of AI bots online to avoid deception.

His comments align with a new report from Elon University in the U.S., which surveyed over 300 tech leaders, analysts, and scholars—including Cerf, futurists like Tracey Follows and John Smart, and former executives from Microsoft and the Aspen Institute—about how AI will shape human cognition over the next decade.

The 300-page report, titled The Future of Being Human, was released on April 3. It found that 60% of experts believe AI will significantly alter human abilities, and roughly half think those changes will be for the worse.

The most commonly cited concerns include declining social and emotional intelligence, weakened moral judgment, and reduced mental health. Experts also warned that if people increasingly rely on AI in areas like decision-making or relationship-building, essential skills like creativity and independent thinking could atrophy.

“I worry that a small minority will benefit massively from AI tools, while most people may abandon critical abilities like action, creativity, and independent judgment,” futurist John Smart wrote.

Tracey Follows, founder of Futuremade, added that human interaction with AI will move beyond screens and into physical spaces. She envisions environments where AI listens and responds to human needs in real time—from emotional support to caregiving and even charitable giving.

Richard Reisman of the American Innovation Foundation warned that the period between 2025 and 2035 will be pivotal in determining whether AI enhances or erodes our humanity.

Separately, a February study by researchers at Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University found that relying too much on AI in the workplace can degrade people’s critical thinking skills. According to the research, users of AI tools tend to “lose practice in regular judgment, exhibit reduced awareness, and struggle when facing exceptions.”

“In other words, when we let AI think for us, our ability to solve problems deteriorates—especially when the AI gets it wrong,” the report concluded.

(Sources: CNN, TechCrunch)

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