Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Inequality

We combine insights from the medical and artificial intelligence (AI) literatures to propose a novel model, which suggests that the expansion of AI may exacerbate cognitive inequality. Information providers maximize profit by tailoring the complexity of content, offering less cognition-enhancing content to less able customers. While individuals with high cognitive abilities may benefit from this increased within-cognitive-group homogeneity, those with lower cognitive abilities—and even children—may suffer adverse effects. Anecdotal data from political discourse and cognitive skills scores are consistent with the model predictions. The findings introduce a new consideration to the debate on financial literacy and AI regulation.