Study finds AI chatbots show early signs of cognitive impairment similar to dementia

A recent study published in The BMJ found that AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, show early signs of cognitive impairment similar to dementia. Researchers used the Montreal Cognitive Assessment to evaluate their performance. The study revealed that all tested chatbots struggled with tasks requiring visuospatial skills and executive functions. ChatGPT scored the highest at 26 out of 30, while Gemini scored the lowest at 16. Researchers noted that older chatbot versions performed worse, resembling cognitive decline in aging humans. The findings suggest that AI chatbots are not ready to replace neurologists and may present challenges as "virtual patients" with cognitive impairments.