This interesting question splashed across the cover of the Atlantic Monthly last summer, headlining a story written by controversial technology analyst and pundit Nicholas Carr, whose argument was that the climate of instant information and supreme distraction which so permeates the Web has taken its toll on the more focused, intellectual pursuits such as bookworming.

Industry leaders though would love to differ – I would beg to protest such falsities myself. A recent poll by the Pew Internet and American Life Project canvassing predictions for the Internet in 2020 found that 76% of respondents said that increasing usage of the Internet (and Google) will help people make smarter choices, and ultimately enhancing human intelligence.

Pew surveyed nearly 900 Internet experts, scholars and business leaders for its Future of the Internet poll, which it conducted in partnership with Elon University.

The survey organized its questions in “tension pairs,” asking participants to cast their vote for one side of a binary query. On the intelligence issue, for instance, respondents explained why they agreed with the assertion:

“By 2020, people’s use of the Internet has enhanced human intelligence; as people are allowed unprecedented access to more information, they become smarter and make better choices. Nicholas Carr was wrong: Google does not make us stupid.”