HIDDEN COSTS OF AI

We often turn to artificial intelligence to save time and make our work better. From writing emails to coming up with new ideas, Large Language Model (LLM) tools promise to make us more productive and efficient. But does this convenience come with a trade-off? While AI can make an individual project look more polished, our research suggests it might actually be making our collective ideas more similar. By looking at how people use AI, we explore the hidden costs of these tools, including how the same technology that helps us create might also be narrowing the diversity of new ideas.

Homogenizing effect of large language models (LLMs) on creative diversity: An empirical comparison of human and ChatGPT writing.

Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans 2025 Data | PDF

Figure 2. Comparison of Diversity Growth Rates in Human and GPT-4 Essays Across Studies