Handwriting is fading fast, replaced by keyboards and AI. Many people, including the author, struggle to write legibly by hand anymore. Schools are dropping cursive, and some students may never learn it.
Typing is faster, but research shows it might weaken the brain’s learning ability compared to handwriting. Now AI’s rise adds a new twist. Mark Zuckerberg warns not using AI-powered smart glasses soon means a “significant cognitive disadvantage.”
Yet relying too much on ChatGPT can hurt critical thinking, a recent study says. AI also has a huge environmental footprint and exploits creative workers. 
Enter “AI vegans”—people who refuse to use AI over environmental, ethical, and wellness concerns. It’s a real movement, not just a catchy phrase.
The takeaway: maybe think twice before asking AI for that random cat spaceship taco image. It could waste a ton of energy—10 times more than a Google search—and cost a bottle of water’s worth of resources.
AI isn’t just convenient. It has a hidden price tag.
Arwa Mahdawi, Guardian columnist, shared these insights.
