Recent studies from Carnegie Mellon, Microsoft and MITreveal that over-reliance on AI can narrow our thinking, reduceidea-generation, and lead to less varied and less original outcomes. In other words, if we're not careful, AI can actually make us less creative.

In this forward-looking episode, Dr. André Walton explores why this happens and what we can do to prevent it. Drawing from neuroscience and social psychology, he explains how the brain uses two core modes of thought - one analytical and convergent, the other imaginative and divergent.

Dr. Walton says, AI tools often reward the more comfortable, less effortful convergent approach. The result? We metaphorically "put our feet up," allowing AI to take over tasks that once challenged and strengthened our creative neuralpathways. Like any unused muscle, those pathways weaken over time. But that outcome is not inevitable. It is a choice, and Dr. André shows us ways we can use AI as a catalyst to advance our emotional intelligence, ourinnovative potential and our resilience.

Key Takeaways:

• Strengthen creative thinking habits that keep the brain's innovation networks active
• Use AI as an innovation and decision-making partner rather than a substitute for human ingenuity
• Guide AI towards generating more original, diverse and high-value ideas
• Build "creative resilience" and increased emotionalintelligence through spherical thinking. Valuable assets in an age of rapid technological change

In short, Dr. Waltong believes the inherent laziness of the human brain is leading many users of AI down a rather negative path (as also suggested by research published last year):

“Microsoft, Carnegie Mellon University,and Harvard Business School research indicates a significant negative correlation between frequent AI usage and critical thinking skills.

This phenomenon, often termed "cognitive offloading," occurs when users delegate complex reasoning and problem-solving tasks to AI, leading to a measurable decline in independent analytical abilities.” Re-creating the ability to thinkcreatively is the answer to combating that.

How to contact Dr. Andre P Walton

Speaker, Author, Burnout & Innovation Coach

TEDx Speaker, International Best-Selling Author

Visiting Professor of Creativity and Entrepreneurship: Newport Business School, Wales, UK

Adjunct Faculty: Justice Management Master’s DegreeProgram, University of Nevada, Reno, NV

Professor, Marketing and Management, BusinessSchool, University of Nevada, Reno, NV

Websites: www.hiredrandre.com

www.plan4change.org

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/plan4change

Calendar: https://app.simplymeet.me/hiredrandre

Thank you for listening to this episode of Mike Schiano In the Queue with Dr. Andre Walton.

In this In the Queue episode, Mike Schiano explains how small business owners can use AI like a dependable new employee to streamline operations, write better prompts, create SOPs, and save time without losing the human touch.

Discover how AI can become your business’s best employee. Mike Schiano shares a simple framework for using AI in daily operations, customer service, training, and workflow design for real business results.

Mike’s argument is simple: most small businesses are already better prepared for AI than they think. Why? Because they already run on systems, checklists, schedules, policies, and repeatable tasks. AI performs best in structured environments, and that is exactly how many successful small businesses already operateIn this episode:

• AI for small business

• AI for operations

• small business AI tools

• AI SOP templates

• AI for customer service

• AI workflow automation for SMBs

Get your copy of the SMB AI SOP Starter Kit

A complete set of AI-powered Standard Operating Procedure templates designed for independent business owners - Everything from customer service scripts to inventory processes to employee onboarding. The prompts are pre-built. The Master Context worksheet is included. You plug in your information and you have a professional ops system running in a day.

Are you just "playing" with AI, or are you building a force multiplier for your business?

In this episode of In the Queue, host Mike Schiano sits down with John Munsell, a technology entrepreneur and AI strategist, to discuss why 95% of AI initiatives fail and how you can ensure yours is part of the 5% that succeeds.

John reveals that true AI adoption isn't just about using a single app; it’s about achieving "skill density" where your team builds their own tools to solve day-to-day problems.

We dive deep into Munsell's proven frameworks, including the AI Strategy Canvas and the 10 Levels of AI Mastery, to help you move from basic prompts to managing autonomous agents.

Key topics discussed in this episode:

• The AI Strategy Canvas: Why your organization needs a common lexicon to align leadership, IT, and HR on AI implementation.

• Scalable Prompt Engineering: How to design standardized, reusable prompts using containers and variables so your whole team can collaborate.

• The Three-Axis AI Maturity Model: Balancing AI mastery, architectural complexity, and AI governance to mitigate risk while driving innovation.

• AI Archetypes: Identifying the Producers, Administrators, Entrepreneurs, and Integrators on your team to build a balanced AI governance board.

• Real-World ROI: How one CEO used Claude and GenSpark to reduce a 350-page RFP analysis from six hours to just 20 minutes, potentially adding millions in revenue capacity.

Stop treating AI as a distraction and start building organizational AI fluency. Whether you are a small business owner or a corporate leader, this episode provides the roadmap to turn AI into a scalable capability.

Special Offer for Listeners: John is offering a free digital copy of his upcoming book for those who join the waiting list at ingrain.ai/2026 and mention they heard him on "In the Queue."

Books Mentioned in the episode:

IngrainAI by John Munsell

Traction by Gino Wickman

The Corporate Life Cycle by Asman Damadoran