Gen Z is the first generation on record to be less intelligent than their parents, according to neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, a former teacher and neuroscientist. He says this is linked to heavy reliance on digital technology in schools.
Horvath told the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation that Gen Z’s intelligence has declined because the human brain is not designed to learn from short online clips or brief summaries of complex ideas, even though they spend more time in school than children did in the 20th century.
“If you look at the data, once countries adopt digital technology widely in schools, performance goes down significantly.” He added that the US is not alone, saying his research across 80 countries shows learning outcomes have worsened over six decades as more technology entered classrooms.
Indeed, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key tool in how we engage with information and learning. Schools have taken notice, too. Students, in particular, are using AI tools for tasks like essay writing. A 2025 study warns that this reliance on AI results in a “decrease in learning skills,” which can lead to what researchers dub “cognitive debt.”
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