Cognitive Load, Fatigue & Decision Offloading 2025 (Dataset, n = 503)

This dataset is part of the Human Clarity Institute’s AI–Human Experience 2025 data series. It examines how digital and AI-powered tools influence cognitive load, mental fatigue, decision offloading, and the after-effects of AI interaction, including momentary cognitive strain, shifts in decision confidence, and changes in mental clarity or restlessness following AI use.The dataset includes:<br>• validated 1–7 Likert-scale items<br>• measures of cognitive load, mental fatigue, AI-reliance tendencies, confidence changes, and decision detachment<br>• behavioural indicators of decision offloading, mental replay, overstimulation, and difficulty mentally switching off after AI use<br>• multi-select variables stored as canonical semicolon-delimited snake_case tokens (not used in this dataset, but retained for data series consistency)<br>• open-text reflections with minimal safe cleaning (trim and newline removal only)<br>• demographic variables across five English-speaking countries<br>• digital life exposure (daily hours online) and AI-tool usage frequencyData were collected on 18 November 2025 via Prolific from adults in the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.<br>All data were cleaned, anonymised, and processed under the Human Clarity Institute’s machine-readable dataset protocol, which includes:• canonical snake_case variable naming<br>• validated numeric ranges<br>• standardised categorical formats<br>• minimal safe text cleaning<br>• full alignment with the accompanying data dictionary<br>• removal of Prolific IDs and timestamps<br>• SHA-256 checksums for all filesThis dataset contributes to understanding how AI use shapes cognitive burden, decision-making confidence, and mental after-effects. It supports longitudinal tracking of how AI reliance, cognitive fatigue, and human judgment evolve over time and informs the changing cognitive relationship between humans and AI in everyday life.