Should You Use AI for a Task? Here’s a Simple Way to Decide

This article argues that while AI can assist with many writing tasks – akin to using a forklift at work – it shouldn’t replace the mental exercise of crafting arguments and developing critical thinking skills, which is more akin to ‘gym work.’ The author uses the analogy of a Harvard Kennedy School professor observing his students’ use of AI writing tools, noting that students often mistake AI-generated content for genuine understanding and skill development. The piece emphasizes the need to consciously separate tasks requiring genuine cognitive effort from those where AI can simply produce a ‘work’ product, and advocates for a deliberate approach to maintaining human skills in a world increasingly shaped by AI.