How AI Is Taking Away Your Ability to Do Your Own Work

The Algorithmic Bridge · 1 month ago

An essay argues that relying on AI agents to complete work reduces the ability to develop and maintain professional skills, because users transition from generating work to merely evaluating AI-produced outputs. The author cites Lisanne Bainbridge's 1983 "Ironies of Automation" paper, which observed that automation creates a paradox where operators need higher skill levels but get less practice. The solution is to maintain a balance between hands-on work and AI management rather than fully delegating tasks, so workers preserve their competence while gaining AI proficiency.