Have you seen the articles floating around online about the dangers of AI?
This week, I read an MIT study about "cognitive debt."
The premise is that using AI makes us mentally lazy and reduces our ability to think clearly.
I don't know about you, but that's not my experience at all.
AI doesn't make me feel dumber. It makes me feel smarter than ever.
It's like having a business partner who's available 24/7, never gets tired, and helps me expand on ideas I never would have time to develop on my own. When I'm working on a project, AI helps me think through every angle, refine my thinking, and get to solutions faster.
I don't feel mentally foggy. I feel inspired and capable of doing more.
Here's what I think is really happening with all this AI anxiety…
We're experiencing the same panic humans felt with every major advance in history.
The Pattern We Never Learn
When we moved from an agrarian society to the machine age, people worried there would be nothing left for humans to do. What would happen to all the farmers?
When cars replaced horse-drawn carriages, people predicted economic collapse. What would happen to all the blacksmiths, stable workers, and carriage makers?
When computers replaced typewriters, office workers panicked. What would happen to all the secretaries and clerks?
When Internet news replaced newspapers, journalists worried about the death of their profession.
Each time, the same fear: "This change will make us obsolete."
And each time, the opposite happened.
Instead of becoming obsolete, these advances freed people from repetitive and time-consuming tasks, allowing them to focus on more creative and meaningful work.
Progress didn't stifle human potential. It expanded it. We adapted.
The Irony of AI Resistance
Here's another fascinating point about the current AI panic.
Think about how often people complain their jobs are robotic and unfulfilling.
"I'm just pushing papers all day."
"My job is so repetitive, a monkey could do it."
"I spend hours on tasks that don't matter."
"I waste so much time on administrative busy work."
Guess what? We got our wish!
There's now an automated way to handle repetitive, administrative work.
So why are we panicking instead of celebrating?
Because change is scary. It's always been scary. But that doesn't mean it's bad.
What AI Actually Does
AI doesn't think for me. It thinks with me.
I don't copy and paste ChatGPT responses and call them my own. I come to AI with my own ideas, my own questions, my own problems to solve.
AI helps me refine those ideas, explore different angles, and develop solutions.
It's collaboration, not replacement.
When I'm writing, AI helps me find better ways to express what I'm already thinking.
When I'm problem-solving, AI helps me consider more perspectives.
When I'm researching, AI helps me gather and process information faster so I can focus on analysis and application.
Here's the key: come to AI with your own intentions.
Bring your expertise, your perspective, your questions, and your pushback.
AI amplifies good thinking, but it doesn’t replace it.
The Real Question
Let’s stop asking, "What if AI makes us obsolete?"
Instead, let’s start asking, “How can I use AI to save time and energy?"
Advances allow us to focus on the things that humans do best.
We now have more time to release our creativity.
…more time to solve interesting problems.
…more time to strengthen relationships.
…more time to think strategically.
Your Turn
I know some of you are still skeptical about AI.
That's okay. Skepticism is healthy.
Today, I challenge you to think about this:
What parts of your work do you actually enjoy? What parts feel like a waste of your time and talent?
If AI could handle the waste-of-time parts, what would you do with that extra capacity?
Would you finally write that book you've been thinking about?
Start that passion project?
Spend more time with clients on strategy instead of administrative tasks?
Focus on the fulfilling aspects of your work instead of the repetitive ones?
AI offers us the chance to be more human, not less.
We can focus on what we're uniquely good at while letting technology handle the rest.
That's not cognitive debt. That's cognitive freedom.
Until Next Week,
Tanya