WHEN MIND MEETS MACHINE: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND HUMAN COGNITION

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the way we live, work, and think. Human cognition—our ability to perceive, remember, learn, and reason—has long been viewed as distinctively human, yet AI now challenges that assumption by simulating and even extending many of these processes. This chapter explores how AI intersects with human cognition, not only from a technical perspective but also from a human one. The chapter begins by examining what cognition means and how AI attempts to mirror its functions. It then look at the ways AI already supports memory, decision-making, learning, and creativity, while also reflecting on its limits—most notably, its lack of consciousness, intention, and moral judgment. A small data example from the U.S. and U.K. illustrates how AI adoption is growing in education and healthcare, two domains closely tied to cognition. The overall argument is that AI should not be seen as a competitor to the human mind but as a partner that can enhance our intellectual and creative lives, provided it is developed and used responsibly.