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The hidden costs of over-reliance on artificial intelligence: emotional, intellectual, and societal consequences

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat, India
  • 2Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • 3PM Shri Kendriya Vidhyalaya No. 2, Neemuch, Village Hingoria, Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, India

Res. J. Family, Community and Consumer Sci., Volume 14, Issue (2), Pages 1-3, July,27 (2026)

Abstract

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into daily life and decision-making, its overuse presents profound challenges that extend beyond technical efficiency. This paper investigates the hidden costs of over-reliance on AI, examining its impact on emotional well-being, human connection, cognitive development, and societal structures. The analysis reveals that excessive dependence on AI erodes emotional depth, reduces genuine human interaction, and diminishes vital social bonds, fostering anxiety, loneliness, and isolation. Critically, it also highlights how routine reliance on AI can degrade critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, leading to cognitive atrophy and increased susceptibility to errors and bias. On an economic and organizational level, the paper discusses how over-reliance risks workforce displacement, deepens economic inequalities, and undermines organizational effectiveness and trust. Factors such as automation bias, lack of AI literacy, and misplaced confidence are explored as key contributors to these issues. The paper concludes by recommending strategies for balancing AI’s advantages with the preservation of human intellect and social cohesion, advocating for AI literacy, transparency, and a human-centered approach to technology adoption.

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