[2025 Good Brain] Professor Lee Haeguk: "We Must Reclaim Human Values Beyond Algorithms"

"Digital Brainwashing" Worsens with AI Advancements
Professor Lee Haeguk Stresses the Need for Greater Social Responsibility Among Digital Media Companies

"We must reclaim our inherent human values, rather than being dominated by digital media as designed by algorithms."

Professor Lee Haeguk of the Department of Psychiatry at Catholic University Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital attended the "2025 Good Brain Conference" hosted by Asia Economy at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 3rd, delivering a lecture on the topic "Digital Brainwashing That Has Already Become a Disease." 2025.9.3 Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Professor Lee Haeguk of the Department of Psychiatry at Catholic University Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital emphasized this point during his lecture on "Digital Brainwashing That Has Already Become a Disease" at the "2025 Good Brain Conference" held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul on the 3rd.

Professor Lee explained, "As digital media repeatedly provides instant fun and convenience, it has shifted from being something 'nice to have' to something that feels 'uncomfortable to live without.' As people turn to digital media to avoid discomfort, addiction occurs."

He also expressed concerns about "dopamine hijacking." Dopamine hijacking refers to a phenomenon in which external stimuli such as digital media, drugs, and gambling excessively and abnormally stimulate the brain's reward circuit, neutralizing natural signals of satisfaction and triggering intense cravings. Professor Lee stated, "When the brain's reward circuit is rewired due to dopamine hijacking, impulsivity increases and self-regulation weakens. In the long term, this leads to a decline in prefrontal cortex function, resulting in impaired planning, judgment, and inhibitory control."

He further pointed out the need for heightened awareness of "digital brainwashing" resulting from the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Digital brainwashing refers to a state in which algorithms, platforms, and AI unconsciously shape an individual's cognitive patterns and values. Professor Lee said, "AI combines all the advantages of fun, convenience, and information, thereby expanding dopamine hijacking in all directions. As a result, people's ability to filter information and think critically weakens, and they become conditioned to accept thoughts presented by machines rather than their own."

Professor Lee also suggested ways to preserve human intelligence in the age of AI. He said, "Seeking out small inconveniences in daily life, such as finding your way without navigation or doing simple mental calculations without a calculator, serves as training to recover memory and judgment functions that have been outsourced to external devices. To preserve critical thinking skills, it is also helpful to develop a habit of thinking for at least one minute before searching for answers when a question arises."

As a method to restore attention and concentration, he recommended monotasking training. By refraining from using smartphones during meals and reading long-form texts at a set time each day, the brain-accustomed to instant stimuli-can be restored to a state capable of deep focus.

He also argued that companies related to AI and digital media must be held to higher standards of social responsibility in order to sustain an information society. Professor Lee said, "For example, if a company earns 10 billion won through AI or digital media, it could be required to invest about 1 billion won in initiatives that encourage offline activities. In some countries, there are already mandatory measures for ethical design focused on user well-being, not on keeping users online longer, but on supporting self-regulation."