News News: 4 December 2025 - 5 December 2025

January 10, 2026, 11:12 AM EST. A tech theorist argues that AI systems are reshaping how people think by encouraging backward reasoning. The claim: when machines surface outcomes, users learn to start from the result and work back to the causes, a habit that may undercut forward planning and independent judgment. The theory points to autocomplete, recommendations, and chat assistants that push likely conclusions, conditioning users to accept machine-led reasoning rather than explicitly formulating questions. Supporters say the dynamic expands problem-solving and access to information; critics warn it could erode critical thinking and originality. The debate touches on education, workplace policy, and oversight as firms embed AI into decision processes without sacrificing human control.