LLMs as a Cognitive Virus

A preprint by Luis F. Seoane, PhD, submitted to arXiv on 3 Sep 2026, proposes that large-language models (LLMs) spread through populations like a cognitive virus, with modeling showing that social transmission and collective reinforcement can create tipping points and technological lock-in, potentially leading to runaway dynamics and abrupt losses in cognitive competence once a critical threshold is crossed. The framework also identifies conditions for 'cognitive immunization' based on reducing transmission and facilitating reversibility, highlighting nonlinear collective transitions with consequences for cognitive autonomy.

Physics Physics and Society Submitted on 3 Sep 2026 Title:Large-Language Models as a Cognitive Virus View PDF /pdf/2609.03344 HTML experimental https://arxiv.org/html/2609.03344v1 Abstract:Large-language models LLMs are rapidly becoming part of human culture, reshaping how information is produced, transmitted, and used. Here we propose that their diffusion can be understood through a viral analogy, with LLM use spreading through populations, becoming embedded in cognitive and cultural practices. We model transitions among uncoupled, coupled, and persistently dependent users, and show that the interplay between social transmission, recovery, and collective reinforcement can generate tipping points and technological lock-in. A central consequence is the possibility of runaway dynamics: once a critical threshold is crossed, small increases in adoption can trigger rapid population-level shifts toward persistent dependence, with abrupt losses in cognitive competence. The same framework, however, identifies conditions for cognitive immunization, based on reducing transmission and facilitating reversibility. Our results highlight how LLM adoption may involve nonlinear collective transitions with important consequences for cognitive autonomy. Submission history From: Luis F Seoane PhD view email /show-email/b2520fac/2609.03344 v1 Thu, 3 Sep 2026 04:03:49 UTC 2,776 KB Current browse context: physics.soc-ph References & Citations Loading... Bibliographic and Citation Tools Bibliographic Explorer What is the Explorer? https://info.arxiv.org/labs/showcase.html arxiv-bibliographic-explorer Connected Papers What is Connected Papers? https://www.connectedpapers.com/about Litmaps What is Litmaps? https://www.litmaps.co/ scite Smart Citations What are Smart Citations? https://www.scite.ai/ Code, Data and Media Associated with this Article alphaXiv What is alphaXiv? https://alphaxiv.org/ CatalyzeX Code Finder for Papers What is CatalyzeX? https://www.catalyzex.com DagsHub What is DagsHub? https://dagshub.com/ Gotit.pub What is GotitPub? http://gotit.pub/faq Hugging Face What is Huggingface? https://huggingface.co/huggingface ScienceCast What is ScienceCast? https://sciencecast.org/welcome Demos Recommenders and Search Tools Influence Flower What are Influence Flowers? https://influencemap.cmlab.dev/ CORE Recommender What is CORE? https://core.ac.uk/services/recommender arXivLabs: experimental projects with community collaborators arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website. Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them. Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs https://info.arxiv.org/labs/index.html .