Keep your brain sharp in the GPT-5 era

As I begin to reflexively reach for AI when I want some knowledge or to understand a concept, I know I'm not struggling as much to figure things out, and that struggle can obviously be very helpful.The periods in which I've learned the most about technology are those when I've been stuck on an incredibly difficult problem that takes me hours or days to solve. I end up learning about everything in the periphery, what is tangential and what is perpendicular and orthogonal.

I commented to my son Dylan, who is about to become a freshman at CU Boulder, that we should figure out ways to keep our brains sharp. In lieu of AI, he immediately suggested asking AI how to do so. He was kind of joking, but it was as good an idea as any. I did so, and the response is exceptionally helpful.

How can I use AI (but not become too reliant on it) to continue thinking deeply about things rather than immediately popping over to ask you questions?

ChatGPT said:
What you’re asking is basically, “How do I get AI to sharpen my thinking, not replace it?” — and that’s a great mindset.
The trick is to structure your workflow so AI acts like a sparring partner rather than a crutch. Here’s a practical framework that works well:

Ask Yourself First
Pause & draft your own answer before consulting AI.

This forces you to exercise your reasoning muscles and see where your thinking is strong or weak.

Even a 2–5 minute pause creates a meaningful difference in how deeply you process something.

Treat AI as the “second brain” that checks and enriches your first brain.

Use AI for Contrast, Not Replacement
Instead of “Tell me the answer,” ask:

“Here’s my reasoning — where are the gaps or blind spots?”

“What alternative viewpoints could challenge my conclusion?”

This way, you’re not outsourcing the thinking, you’re stress-testing it.

Turn AI into a Debate Partner
Have it argue against your position or play devil’s advocate.

Or, have it take the opposite worldview entirely and defend it.

This builds your ability to anticipate counterarguments and deepen your reasoning.

Limit AI’s Role in Early-Stage Thinking
Use “AI last” in creative or problem-solving work:

Brainstorm independently.

Organize your ideas.

Then bring in AI to expand, refine, or challenge them.

This keeps your original ideas intact before they get blended with AI’s suggestions.

Use AI to Teach, Not Tell
Ask it to explain concepts as if you were going to teach them to someone else.

This forces you to engage deeply — you’ll catch gaps when you try to explain back in your own words.

Periodically Go “AI-Free”
Block out AI for certain tasks, days, or phases of projects.

Keeps your mental endurance up and prevents over-dependence.

Measure the Depth of Your Thinking
After using AI, ask yourself:

“Could I explain this without looking at my notes?”

“Could I apply this idea in a different context?”

“Could I spot if AI was wrong here?”

If “no” to any of these — your brain didn’t do enough of the lifting yet.

Bottom line:
Treat AI like a high-level colleague you bounce ideas off, not like a vending machine for answers.
If you make your thinking the starting point and AI’s thinking the refinement layer, you’ll keep your brain sharp and actually become better at deep reasoning over time.

If you want, I can make you a practical AI “thinking workout” routine you can use daily so your brain stays in shape.
It’s like strength training — but for your reasoning muscles.