Critical thinking in times of AI

We live in an era where information is always available, always sounds convincing, and always comes from somewhere. The question is no longer how you access information. The question is whether you still know what you think of it yourself. This session sharpens your own critical voice in an environment that increasingly overloads you.

According to Diane Halpern, critical thinking is the purposeful and reflective use of cognitive skills to make better decisions. Paul & Elder go a step further: they view critical thinking as a mindset, a permanent readiness to question one’s own thinking. In plain language, this means: “Do not automatically trust what you hear, read, or feel. Check, doubt, and dare to revise.”

There is something fascinating about what has happened in recent years. People who are naturally skeptical, who have spent their lives learning to ask questions, are now staring at a screen and accepting the output of an algorithm without much thought. Have we suddenly become less intelligent? No, the technology is built in such a way that our brains go into overdrive. Overdrive means less room to think, to slow down, and to look critically.

Algorithms and AI exploit our cognitive vulnerabilities. They show us more of what we already believe and confirm our worldview. They also sound convincing even when they generate the wrong result. Information arrives at a pace that our brains cannot keep up with.

In this session, Elke Van Hoof makes these mechanisms visible and recognizable. Participants discover common cognitive errors, such as confirmation bias and overconfidence. With nine check questions, Elke Van Hoof brings back the critical thinking being you once were.

In an era of automation and digital acceleration, critical thinking becomes a core competency within organizations. It enables employees to:

• Interpret information correctly
• Evaluate their own thinking processes
• Make responsible decisions, even with AI by their side

L&D professionals play a key role here: by facilitating training sessions like this one, they strengthen the mental resilience and agility of teams. We help you shape these skills in a powerful and sustainable way.

Participants learn to test AI information against nine intellectual standards. Some examples:

• Is it clear? Do I truly understand it?
• Is it correct? Can I verify this?
• Is it complete? Have no relevant matters been omitted?
• Is it fair? Are counterarguments also highlighted?

These reflection questions are essential to avoid falling prey to clickbait, half-truths, or AI hallucinations.

AI helps, but it can also weaken our thinking. Three striking insights:

• Memory loss due to digital dependency. Thanks to AI, we need to remember less. Convenient, but also dangerous: we train our memory less and become dependent on digital aids
• Fragmented attention. From TikTok to ChatGPT: AI is designed to hold your attention. Consequently, our brains lose the capacity for deep focus
• Reduced problem-solving. Why think for yourself when AI answers you? But without practice, our problem-solving ability—crucial in work and life—weakens

Participants also learn how AI can reinforce our natural reasoning errors:

• Confirmation bias. You primarily look for AI output that confirms your opinion
• Framing effect. The way AI formulates something influences your judgment
• Overconfidence bias. “It sounds smart, so it must be right…”

Additionally, the session zooms in on three digital pitfalls:

• Echo chambers: algorithms reinforce your existing beliefs
• AI trust: people accept AI output without questioning it
• Black box problem: decisions are made without explanation or insight

Elke Van Hoof concludes with a call to actively train your cognitive fitness, just like your physical fitness. Her tips:

• Train your memory (e.g., memorize phone numbers)
• Practice with logic puzzles or reflection questions
• Exercise and create “white time” for real focus
• Use AI as an ally, not as a replacement

Ask yourself today: “Am I using AI as a tool, or as a crutch?” The future does not demand blind speed, but conscious steps. And those begin with a critical brain.