Jim Kwik: If You're Using AI Like This, You're Killing Your Brain

Dave Asprey (0:00)

I'm actually starting to use AI to protect my brain, and I feel like my brain just relaxed. I was like, oh, it's becoming less dumb.

Jim Kwik (0:07)

You saw the MIT study that came out months ago, where they had three groups of people, A, B, and C students. A used ChatGPT to write essay, B used Google, group C used no technology at all, and then they tested them afterwards, before, during, and after, and they also mapped their brains. And those who use AI specifically were not cognitively engaged. They didn't remember what was written, when they were tested, post also as well, whereas those who relied on just their own brain, their own thinking, doing the work, had deeper understanding, deeper recall, and it depends what your output is, like what your outcome is. And I think that's our advantage in moving forward in a world of AI. What's your latest brain upgrade?

Dave Asprey (0:48)

You're listening to The Human Upgrade with Dave Asprey.

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This episode of The Human Upgrade is recorded at my temporary studios as we build bigger ones here in Austin.

With a dear friend for more than 10 years, he's been on the show before. He just spoke at the Beyond Biohacking Conference this weekend. None other than top memory expert, Jim Kwik.

Jim Kwik (3:20)

Thanks, Dave. What a great week.

Dave Asprey (3:23)

It's...

Jim Kwik (3:23)

Congratulations.

Dave Asprey (3:24)

Oh, thanks, Matt.

I couldn't be more happy than I am with the way my team performed with 5,000 happy people. It was amazing.

Jim Kwik (3:34)

Yeah, it was beyond... I could tell you spent a lot of time. I was there for all the days.

Just gets better and better. How many years have you done this now?

Dave Asprey (3:44)

This is the 14th.

Jim Kwik (3:46)

Outstanding.

Dave Asprey (3:47)

Yeah. I was really touched. There were some really emotional moments there for people who've been in this journey of biohacking for 10 plus years. People with tears in their eyes. And yeah, it feels good.

Jim Kwik (4:00)

Yeah, I remember Pasadena and Beverly Hills, Lando. Austin feels good.

Dave Asprey (4:06)

Yeah, it's a beautiful place, beautiful community. And the cool thing, Jim, is that you remember that because you sort of had a brain injury.

Jim Kwik (4:16)

Sort of, sort of.

Dave Asprey (4:18)

A lot of listeners may not know your backstory, but when we first met for dinner, probably 15 years ago, I was just blown away. Tell me about your first experience as someone who had injured your brain, teaching people about their brains.

Jim Kwik (4:35)

I mean, I think, yeah, my inspiration was my desperation. I had a traumatic brain injury when I was in kindergarten, took a really bad fall, rushed to the emergency room. And I mean, the net effect was I was able, learning disabled.