It's getting harder to resist the temptation to pull up a chatbot and switch off your brain for simple tasks, like replying to emails. But that convenience comes with a downside: If you stop engaging in tasks that require critical thinking, creativity, and judgment, those mental muscles can weaken over time. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday work, some researchers have found that a heavy reliance on AI is quietly deskilling workers . It's a concern for average employees, too.