I can see it going either way. On the one hand, you may find people spend less time reinventing the wheel. On the other, they may lose the basic skills involved

I can see it going either way. On the one hand, you may find people spend less time reinventing the wheel. On the other, they may lose the basic skills involved in pursuing answers to questions that aren't readily available, or even the habit of pursuing such answers altogether. Really, though, our collective knowledge has advanced so far that most meaningful inventions require extraordinary specialization and focus. That kind of focus only comes from a lifelong, passionate curiosity, not just the sort of passing fancy a google search can satisfy.