TomorrowLawyer: Scholar, Tribune, & Operator

Eva Keiffenheim discusses two recent research studies on the possible cognitive decay by using AI in an new substack entitled: AI Can Make You Look Brilliant While Your Skills Quietly Decay To avoid the cignitive delay she recommends:

Structure AI interactions to build cognitive capital rather than deplete it:

1. Seek AI explanations, not just answers.

If your goal is to learn, change your prompting strategy. Instead of asking “What should I do?”, ask “What are the key principles I should consider here?” or “What is the reasoning behind this conclusion?”

Force the AI to show its work, and then force yourself to evaluate that logic before you accept the result. This is slower and more uncomfortable, as in effortful, which is a signal that you’re learning.

2. Treat AI outputs as “worked examples,” not final products.

When AI generates high-quality output—whether code, copy, or strategy—reverse-engineer it. Ask yourself: Why did it structure the argument this way? Why is this function more efficient?

Rather than copy-pasting a shortcut, treat the output like a masterclass you are studying and critically reviewing.

3. Use AI to refine your process, not to skip it.

Do not ask AI to do the work. Ask AI to critique how you intend to do the work. If you are writing, ask for feedback on your outline. If you are coding, ask for a critique of your architecture. Keep the execution—and the struggle that comes with it—in your own hands.

4. Calibrate How You Use AI Depending on Your Current Skill Level

• If you are a Novice, be careful with information overload. Focus on using AI to explain foundational concepts rather than optimizing complex workflows. You cannot evaluate a complex suggestion if you don’t understand the basics.
• If you are Middle-Skilled, you are in the “sweet spot” for AI coaching. You know enough not to drown, but have enough to learn. Lean into AI feedback, but verify it.
• If you are an Expert, your risk is hubris. You might reject valid AI feedback because it challenges your intuition. The solution is to pair AI tools with human peers who can help you objectively evaluate the AI’s suggestions.

The One Rule That Makes AI Your Ally

Across all these contexts, one rule remains constant: AI promotes learning only when it increases the quality of information available while preserving the requirement for user synthesis.