Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, a faculty member of the Üsküdar University Sociology Department, assessed the risks faced by independent thinking, learning, and decision-making skills in the age of artificial intelligence, drawing on Cemil Meriç’s emphasis on thinking.
Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that technological transformations have changed humanity's relationship with knowledge throughout history, saying, “Major technological transformations in human history have altered not only modes of production but also humanity's relationship with knowledge and thought. The printing press disseminated information, machines lightened physical labor, and the internet accelerated access to information. Artificial intelligence, however, represents a different threshold. Because this time, technology not only helps us access information but also directly intervenes in our processes of interpretation, comparison, writing, reasoning, and decision-making.”
Thinking is warfare; it gains new meaning in the age of artificial intelligence
Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı emphasized that the issue of artificial intelligence is not limited to technological development and efficiency, stating that it also concerns human cognitive autonomy, which is the capacity to think and make decisions independently.
Prof. Süleymanlı stated that one of the main concerns of Cemil Meriç, who defined himself as an 'idea worker,' was that humans should not surrender to ready-made thought patterns, and added that Meriç's saying 'Thinking is warfare' has gained new meaning in the age of artificial intelligence.
Prof. Süleymanlı noted that what is decisive in the use of systems that can write texts, summarize books, and generate arguments in seconds is the relationship humanity establishes with its own thinking process. He stated, “The problem is not that artificial intelligence can do these things. The real issue is at what point we start to hand over the mental tasks we should be doing ourselves. Especially for new generations, this situation carries the risk of thinking, questioning, and problem-solving skills weakening before they are adequately developed.”
To what extent are thinking and decision-making abilities in technology?
Prof. Süleymanlı also touched upon the warnings of historian and writer Yuval Noah Harari regarding artificial intelligence becoming an 'actor' that can participate in decision-making processes, stating that it is necessary to question not only who uses technology but also to what extent the authority for thinking and decision-making is left to technology.
Prof. Süleymanlı stated that the human mind can be empowered by technology, adding, “However, when the responsibility for thinking, comparing, doubting, and making decisions is entirely left to technology, we begin to speak not of a helpful tool, but of cognitive dependence.”
Changes in cognitive skills cannot be directly linked to artificial intelligence
Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, citing research indicating that the intergenerational rise in IQ test scores has slowed, stopped, or even reversed in some cognitive areas in certain countries, emphasized that caution should be exercised in interpreting these findings.
Recalling that the rise observed throughout much of the twentieth century is called the 'Flynn effect,' Prof. Süleymanlı said, “It might not be correct to attribute this directly to artificial intelligence. Because some of these trends had started long before the widespread adoption of generative artificial intelligence.”
Prof. Süleymanlı stated that changes in education quality, attention deficit, social media, screen usage, and long-text reading habits should be discussed together in this debate, and pointed out that instantly accessing ready-made answers can transform the habit of exerting mental effort.
Prof. Süleymanlı stated, “Therefore, the real issue is not whether artificial intelligence alone is a cause of decline, but whether it will deepen existing cognitive weaknesses.”
“Learning is not just finding the right answer”
Prof. Süleymanlı stated that how artificial intelligence is widespread in a cognitive environment is important, and that in an environment where long-term attention, reading, and independent thinking habits are weakening, technologies that take on the intellectual burden could create new risks.
Prof. Süleymanlı stated that students can prepare assignments in a few seconds, access a book's summary without reading it, and produce academic-looking texts without forming their own opinions. He expressed his views by saying, “Accessing information faster does not mean thinking better. Because learning is not just finding the right answer. Learning is searching, making mistakes, comparing, doubting, and rethinking.”
Artificial intelligence should be told 'Challenge my thinking'
Prof. Süleymanlı emphasized that the solution is not to stay away from artificial intelligence, stating, “The issue is to make it a partner in thinking, not a substitute for thinking.”
Prof. Süleymanlı, pointing out that the questions posed to artificial intelligence can change its mode of use, suggested asking: 'Instead of 'Think for me', 'Challenge my thinking'; instead of 'Give me the correct answer', 'What other perspectives are possible?'; and instead of 'Make a decision for me', 'What am I overlooking here?'
Technological investments should be accompanied by a strong culture of thought
Prof. Süleymanlı stated that for Turkey and the Turkic world, the issue is not only about establishing technological infrastructure and increasing artificial intelligence investments, but also about developing a culture of reading, critical thinking, questioning, and research alongside technological capacity.
Prof. Süleymanlı warned that in environments where intellectual infrastructure is weak, the tendency towards ready-made information and cognitive dependence can deepen. He emphasized that the human responsibility for thinking should be at the center of discussions about the future, concluding his words as follows:
“Because the fundamental question of the future is not how intelligent machines will be. The real question is this: As artificial intelligence thinks for us, will we continue to think for ourselves?”
