Bland new world: is AI making us all think the same? Researchers worry that generative AI is homogenizing culture and cognition. By Matthew Hutson

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-02682-3?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=9803e5de03-nature-briefing-daily-20260902&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-33f35e09ea-50432164 The widespread use of generative artificial intelligence across all facets of society appears to be stripping writing and imagery of individuality, say researchers who are studying the phenomenon. Evidence already suggests that this increased uniformity can influence how we make decisions and the opinions we hold, which could begin to homogenize human culture and cognition, they warn. This AI sameness might not upend society, but in a worst-case scenario, it could make people collectively less adaptable, says computer scientist Zhivar Sourati.