Brain Rot: What is tech doing to your memory?Brain Rot: What is tech doing to your memory?
All In The Mind
We're trusting tech with more tasks than ever — including the ones our brains once did. We're Googling things we used to know, taking screenshots of things we'll instantly forget, and hoarding all kinds of data we'll never check again. On this episode of Brain Rot: is tech giving your brain a holiday, or putting it out of a job? You'll also meet a guy who's turned the tables, by using AI to help recover his lost memories. This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind in mid-October. Guests: Dr Julia Soares Assistant Professor, Mississipi State University Morris Villaroel Academic, Spain; Lifelogger Max Credits: Presenter: Ange Lavoipierre Producer: Fiona Pepper Senior Producer: James Bullen Sound Engineer: Tim Symonds This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples. More Information: Memory in the Digital Age — Oxford Handbook of Human Memory, 2024. Lifelog Retrieval from Daily Digital Data: Narrative Review — JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2022. People mistake the internet's knowledge for their own — PNAS, 2021. Data Selves: More-Than-Human Perspectives — Deborah Lupton, 2019. One man's 10-year experiment to record every moment — BBC, 2019. The case for using your brain — even if AI can think for you — Vox, 2025. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.
29:36•27 Sept 2025
Is Tech Making Our Brains Lazy or Liberating?
Episode Overview
- Technology may be causing cognitive atrophy by taking over tasks our brains used to perform.
- AI can aid in recovering lost memories, as demonstrated by Max's experience.
- Life-logging can either aid or impair memory, depending on the approach.
- Taking photos might impair memory if not reviewed regularly.
- Using technology as a memory aid can be beneficial if done mindfully.
“"It was like going from greyscale to technicolour."”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? Well, this episode of 'All In The Mind' is a fascinating deep dive into the impact of technology on our memory and cognitive processes. Host Ange Lavoie-Pierre takes us on a journey through our ever-evolving relationship with tech, posing the question: Is tech a helpful ally or a hindrance to our mental faculties? You'll hear from Dr.
Julia Soares, who highlights how our reliance on digital devices might be causing a kind of mental atrophy, potentially diminishing our ability to remember things we once held dear. A standout story in the episode is that of Max, who uses AI to piece together fragmented memories from his past. It's an eye-opener as he shares how chatbots have helped him recover lost memories, turning greyscale recollections into vivid technicolour.
Meanwhile, Maurice Villarole discusses life-logging, a meticulous practice of documenting every aspect of his life. His story raises the intriguing question of whether such extensive documentation aids or hinders memory. Listeners are treated to a blend of personal anecdotes and scientific insights, making for a thought-provoking exploration of how technology is reshaping our minds. The episode also touches on the emotional aspects of memory, with Max finding joy and grief intertwined in his journey to reclaim his past.
If you're curious about the intersection of technology and memory, and how it affects our daily lives, this episode is a must-listen. Are we freeing up brain space for more significant things, or are we risking losing our ability to remember? Tune in and decide for yourself.
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