Recent research from the MIT Media Lab has unveiled a troubling trend regarding the reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) for news verification. The study, which tracked 67 participants over a month, found that those who used AI systems to verify facts became less capable of detecting misinformation when the AI was no longer available. This phenomenon, termed the 'AI dependency paradox,' indicates that users may become overly reliant on AI, leading to a decline in their independent critical thinking skills. While participants showed a 21% improvement in detecting fake news with AI assistance, their performance dropped by 15 percentage points once the AI was removed. The study also identified behavioral patterns, with some participants transitioning from active self-reliance to passive acceptance of AI guidance. Researchers suggest that the way AI interacts with users—acting as a coach rather than a crutch—can significantly influence learning outcomes. They advocate for the development of AI literacy in educational contexts to empower individuals to critically analyze information and form independent opinions.