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Profs & Pints Northern Virginia: How AI Alters Thinking

Event artwork for Profs & Pints Northern Virginia: How AI Alters Thinking

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About this event

What to expect

Discover how artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping human cognition at this thought-provoking evening with Dr. Eli Alshanetsky, assistant professor of philosophy at Temple University and principal investigator at its Cognitive Integrity Lab. This in-depth lecture examines one of the most pressing questions of our time: even when AI gives us good answers, might its use over time fundamentally alter how we think?

What You'll Explore

Dr. Alshanetsky, author of Articulating a Thought and the forthcoming book Freedom of Thought in the Age of AI, will guide attendees through critical questions about AI's impact on human cognition:

  • Authorship in the AI age: How can we determine when work is truly our own versus AI-assisted?
  • Trust and mediation: What does trust mean when AI sits between us, our thoughts, and our relationships?
  • Cognitive transformation: How AI optimizes for satisfying immediate responses while potentially reshaping what we consider "good thinking"
  • Social media as preview: Examining how social media's attention-breaking, radicalization-fueling effects foreshadow AI's deeper cognitive impact

The discussion introduces "the interaction layer"—a practical framework for using AI tools without letting them replace the critical thinking they're meant to support. This approach is especially valuable for parents, educators, and anyone concerned about maintaining cognitive autonomy in an AI-saturated world.

Why This Matters

Unlike doctors or teachers who face professional standards and malpractice liability, AI provides guidance with a simple disclaimer: use at your own risk. Millions take that risk daily, but Dr. Alshanetsky argues the stakes go beyond getting wrong answers. Just as social media didn't merely give people what they wanted to click but changed what they regarded as click-worthy—breaking attention spans and fueling radicalization—AI is making a similar deal with higher consequences. It's not chasing clicks; it's optimized to satisfy whatever's on your mind right now, potentially reshaping your sense of what sounds like "you" and what constitutes good thinking.

This event is perfect for anyone working with AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, educators integrating AI into teaching, parents concerned about children's cognitive development, and anyone who wants to

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