Psychological Influence of Artificial Intelligence on the Language and Thinking of Young People: A Sociolinguistic Perspective

Abstract

This article examines how the overuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models is affecting the minds, language, and identity of young people. The author warns that by allowing algorithms to automatically write and complete our ideas due to the "law of least effort," the brain stops working, leading to cognitive atrophy and a loss of critical thinking. From a sociolinguistic perspective, the text argues that digital tools impose a neutral, corporate language that destroys creative spark, youth slang, and individual voice. Furthermore, it accelerates the displacement of minority languages by dominant ones like English, through phenomena such as Spanglish or Arabīzī. Finally, the article advocates for defending "Cognitive Sovereignty"-the right to think for oneself- and transforming education so that classrooms prioritize spontaneity, face-to-face communication, and the human thought process over the final product generated by a machine.