Generative AI: Working Faster, But Are We Thinking Less?

3x faster work, but are we losing something more valuable?

A recent study of US workers reveals massive productivity gains due to GenAI at work. Tasks that once took 90 minutes are now being completed in just 30 minutes. That’s a 3x productivity boost - like turning 9-hour workday into 3 hours. But with all this AI-powered efficiency, a crucial question emerges: What's happening to our thinking in the process?

That's what researchers at Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon wanted to know. Their study of 319 knowledge workers revealed two game-changing insights:

First, there's the "Trust Paradox":

1. The more confident people were in AI, the less they questioned it. Potentially leading to errors and less critical thinking.

2. But those who trusted their own judgment actually got better results - even though it meant more mental work.

Second, GenAI is fundamentally changing how we work in 3 ways:

1. From Researcher → Fact Checker: Instead of spending time gathering information, workers now focus on verifying AI outputs. Think less "research" and more "fact-checking."

2. From Builder → Assembler: Rather than solving problems from scratch, workers increasingly focus on integrating and customizing AI solutions.

3. From Doer → Director: Workers are shifting from executing tasks to "stewarding" AI - guiding, monitoring, and ensuring quality. This requires new skills in prompt engineering and output evaluation.

What This Means For Your Business

As you embed GenAI in your processes, focus on maintaining human critical thinking. Here's your playbook:

1. Master the Art of Asking - AI makes answers free, but asking the right questions is priceless. Train your team to:

• Write prompts that include business context

• Set clear success criteria before starting

• Focus on problems you deeply understand

2. Think Like a Detective - Every AI answer needs a skilled Sherlock Holmes. Get your team to ask:

• "What local knowledge might be missing?"

• "Which assumptions need double-checking?"

• "Where are the potential blind spots?"

3. Keep Humans in Charge - Don't just use AI - guide it. Build workflows where humans:

• Own strategic decisions

• Validate client-facing work

• Learn from AI mistakes

The Bottom Line

The productivity gains from AI are real and remarkable. But as we rush to embrace this superpower, we need to be thoughtful about how we maintain our mental muscles. The winners won't be those who use AI the most, but those who use it most wisely.

Those are my Thoughts From the DataFront

Max