Artificial intelligence can write your emails, make summaries of your reports, and produce complete articles within seconds. However, artificial intelligence cannot do your thinking for you. With an increasing number of AI-powered applications becoming part of our everyday life, the skill to ask questions, analyze, and reason about the data offered is not only a soft skill anymore, but perhaps one of the most sought-after skills in our time. With the use of AI tools entering our daily routine at work or study, critical thinking becomes necessary to be able to evaluate data produced by AI reasonably. The following article is based on critical thinking fundamentals and current AI abilities.

Critical thinking is an objective analysis of the provided data that entails questioning the underlying assumptions and concluding using logic and reason rather than blind faith.

In the age of artificial intelligence, the definition has remained more or less the same; it now also entails asking such questions as “Was this written by a human being or by artificial intelligence?” and “Is this AI-based answer valid?”

Since AI technology can generate unreliable or erroneous data, the reader must corroborate key information through independent and credible sources. Using evidence-based reasoning is one of the most effective methods to make decisions in the era of artificial intelligence. The commonly held belief is that AI technology minimizes human reasoning. The exact opposite is true.

AI gives solutions, but not explanations. Chatbots sound convincing even if they are wrong — they can make up facts or reference non-existent sources.

AI magnifies whatever input it receives. It does not know whether information is correct — it just predicts patterns. This way, AI can propagate disinformation just as well as useful information.

AI changes faster than most can follow. Critical thinkers are able to objectively analyze any emerging technology instead of blindly believing or disbelieving it.

The advent of generative AI has made it easier to produce convincing fakes such as fake news articles and deepfakes. This is why critical thinking is now a matter of survival.

Strong critical thinkers:

Question the source before accepting a claim

Cross-check with multiple credible sources

Spot emotionally manipulative language

Understand how algorithms shape what they see

Decisions in hiring, health care, finance, and other fields increasingly depend upon the use of AI-generated data and predictions. Good decision-making in modern times is no longer a choice between human wisdom and AI but rather involves critical thinking in order to integrate the two. It requires validating the relevance of an AI recommendation to reality, detecting biases in AI-generated data, and more.

Analysis - splitting complicated information into simple bits

Evaluation - assessing whether the source is trustworthy or not

Inference - concluding based on evidence

Interpretation - making sense out of things

Self-regulation - recognizing and correcting personal biases and assumptions

Problem-solving - using logic to find practical solutions

The individual who has curiosity, an open mind, healthy skepticism, humility, and objectivity is better prepared to be a knowledgeable user of AI than simply the consumer of machine-made products.

Marketer cross-checks statistics generated by AI before including them in his report.

Student cross-checks historical data generated by an AI tool to use it in his essay.

Reader holds off before forwarding a viral quote or picture generated by AI and checks if it is true or not.

In all three cases, AI acts as an initial source, while critical thinking fills the gap between instant response and accurate response.

Source Checking: Find out where a statement is coming from before accepting it.

Argument Decomposition: Analyze an argument in terms of claim, evidence, and reasoning to determine if it is valid.

Devil’s Advocate Positioning: Defend the opposing viewpoint from your own.

AI Fact Check Test: Give AI something you know is true and ask it for a validation.

Daily Reflection Session: Take five minutes to examine a decision that you have made and its reasoning process.

Reflection in thinking is all about the act of introspection of your own thought process by asking yourself questions on what the underlying assumptions were, whether you went for the shortcut (for instance by relying on AI) to avoid independent reasoning, and what you would have done differently. Thanks to AI, reflection in thinking becomes very important.

Today, classrooms have to not only teach their pupils how to use these devices but also to critically evaluate the outcome of the device through discussion, media literacy, and understanding that originality is preferable to instant AI assistance. It is well accepted by educators, researchers, and even technology specialists that AI is supposed to assist human reasoning, not the other way around. The development of critical thinking skills will enable people to benefit from the use of AI.

AI development will continue to become faster, cheaper, and more efficient. One unique aspect of man is his ability to ask questions, analyze information, and make decisions. In the era of AI, the people who will thrive will be those who know how to use AI technology and think well.