Heuristic or Algorithmic Thinking? Assessing Generative AI’s Impact on Human Decision-Making. A Literature Review

The rapid integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) across multiple domains is reshaping human reasoning and decision-making. This literature review (LR) examines how GAI influences heuristic thinking, algorithmic reasoning, and critical judgment. Drawing on dual-process theory and self-determination theory, the review conceptualizes human cognition under GAI through two constructed dimensions, heuristic and algorithmic. Following PRISMA guidelines, the search covered Scopus and Web of Science databases (2018–2025). 109 articles met the inclusion criteria, screened independently by two reviewers. Findings reveal domain-specific patterns: in medicine and management, GAI enhances diagnostic and operational accuracy through algorithmic precision; in education and research, it improves access and efficiency but may attenuate cognitive autonomy and critical thinking. While GAI strengthens analytical reasoning, it also risks overreliance and cognitive offloading, potentially weakening heuristic adaptability. Limitations include English-only publications, exclusion of technical databases, and the field’s fast evolution. Despite these constraints, the review offers a theoretically grounded synthesis of GAI’s cognitive implications. It highlights conditions under which human oversight remains essential to sustain reflective judgment. Future research should expand multilingual and cross-disciplinary perspectives to better capture regional and cultural variations in human–AI interaction. The review was partially funded by a grant from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú PI1331.