Master Chief Doesn’t Let Cortana Lead: Why Humanity Still Matters in the Age of AI

There’s a constant in Halo that you feel throughout the story: Master Chief is always in control. He listens to Cortana, relies on her, and trusts her completely. However, he never hands over the mission to her. He never lets her lead.

That dynamic says everything about how we should be approaching AI right now.

Whether you’re using ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas, Google Gemini to organize data, or other AI tools for design, writing, or business strategy, the minute we stop driving and start outsourcing core decisions to artificial intelligence, we’re no longer leading. I believe that’s where things get risky for us cognitively.

The Recent MIT Study Everyone Should Pay Attention To.

A 2025 study from the MIT Media Lab revealed something many of us suspected, and perhaps didn’t need to prove with data. People who rely heavily on ChatGPT had the lowest brain engagement and “consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels” (Chow, 2025).

Let that sit for a moment.

Researchers had participants complete tasks using either their minds alone, Google, or ChatGPT. Those who used ChatGPT not only had the lowest levels of original thought, but they also showed signs of what researchers call “metacognitive laziness”. This is the brain’s way of saying, “Why think if you don’t have to?” Even more concerning is that the cognitive slowdown lasted months after the study ended.

Don’t get me wrong and think this is a jab at AI. It’s a reminder that when you give away too much of your thinking, your brain stops training for it. Just like muscles weaken without resistance, creativity and discernment fade when we always choose the shortcut.

AI Should Enhance, Not Replace.

This is where I want to give a major nod to the creators and stewards of Halo, including Bungie and Halo Studios (formerly 343 Studios), for building one of the most emotionally complex and intelligent AI narratives in gaming. In the Halo series, Cortana may come off as more of a voice in Master Chief’s helmet. However, she’s his partner and guide. Cortana is a highly advanced AI built for tactical processing, environmental awareness, and strategic insight. Even at her most powerful, she knows there are things Master Chief can do that she never will.

That’s humanity. It’s the edge, and honestly, that’s the balance we need with AI right now.

We need to use it to analyze and synthesize data, structure, or explore possibilities. The warning is, don’t let it carry your mission, because only you know the nuance of your vision. We have the responsibility of carrying and implementing our values. Only we can feel what’s right when the data looks fine, but something within us says no.

AI is the Tool. You Are the Point.

AI is an incredible tool; yet, the danger lies in the transfer of agency. The moment we let a tool think for us instead of with us, we lose the muscle memory of reasoning, and it prevents us from fully building internal clarity. Instead, we wait for answers that are pre-processed, polished, and easily forgettable.

Remember: Cortana didn’t take over Master Chief’s mission. She made him better at it.

She processed information faster. She knew things he couldn’t access. She guided, warned, and equipped him. However, she didn’t replace his choices. That’s the relationship we need with AI.

The Cognitive Cost of Convenience.

The MIT study serves as a subtle reminder, or even a form of cognitive debt. You save time now, but you’ll pay for it later in lost depth, memory recall, and shallow thinking. This will show up in real life. Some examples are:

• Remembering things you used to.

• Relying more on prompts than reflection.

• Difficulty in being original, because you’ve trained yourself to ask before you create.

I don’t believe we were ever meant to be passive receivers. We’re meant to wrestle with questions and challenges. Almost everything around you that you use and perhaps even take for granted was once a challenge for others in the past. They had to struggle through, even suffer, to find a solution. These solutions, through struggle and suffering, help us build a better world for future generations.

How To Use AI Like a Spartan, Not a Shortcut.

Let’s get practical and use AI like Master Chief uses Cortana:

1. Start With Your Thoughts. Before prompting the AI, write down your raw ideas. Give your brain the first pass at the problem.

2. Use AI for What You Don’t Know. If it’s technical data, clarification, or exploration, ask AI. However, if it’s values, judgment, or leadership, that’s your job.

3. Reflect Before You Accept. Ask if it sounds like you and reflects your intent.

4. Remember the Mission. AI’s job is to support your mission. If you’re not clear on the mission first, the tool will lead instead of follow.

Final Thoughts: Stay In the Driver’s Seat

AI isn’t going away, and there is intense debate about whether it should. My encouragement is not to forget who we are and what it means to lead, create, and wrestle with ideas until they become something meaningful. We should not hand over the wheel because the ride gets faster or more convenient.

Master Chief doesn’t let Cortana lead the mission. And neither should we. Our humanity is the real superpower. AI might be an incredible guide, but only you can decide, feel, and lead.

That’s the difference that will always matter most.

References

Chow, A. (2025, June 23). ChatGPT May Be Eroding Critical Thinking Skills, According to a New MIT Study. Time. https://time.com/7295195/ai-chatgpt-google-learning-school/

Kos'myna, N. (2025, June 10). Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task. https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/