Introduction
I’ve spent my dues in the AI marketplace. I eagerly surrendered to subscriptions of ChatGPT, Claude, and Cursor. With AI, I’ve vibed my way through a dozen neat tools in less than a year. Creating one VBA Excel tool, on the other hand, took 6 meandering months. These things truly are the real deal in making smart tools. But 2 years have passed since I first started out on this sugar high; AI isn’t as crazy helpful as I thought it was. Instead of changing my job description, it only let me explore some ideas on the side.
This isn’t a dig at AI, although it is a dig at my early expectations. At first, the marketing of AI made me think I would no longer need to write any emails, documents, or manuals. Today, the marketing of AI convinces me I must write all emails, all documents, and all manuals. At first, the promises of AI made me think I would no longer need to calculate anything. Today, the promises of AI force me to be doubtful of all calculations.
Manual Effort has Benefits
I enjoy AI for the same reason why I enjoy my 42-inch Club Cadet tractor mower: it cuts things well and it’s fun to use. You cannot call me a Luddite any more than you can call me Amish. Both things, by their own design, remove the need for manual effort, which, by definition, is what tools are for. However, there is something to gain from manual effort. For example, I feel a frightful sense of pleasure when tilling my wife’s flower garden by hand. These things gained from manual effort are ancient and, oftentimes, are difficult to put to words; most discussions over automation include the human sentiment of manual labor. That sentiment is not only sentimental but also valuable. I’ll give an example of what I mean.
When I first set my hands to the automatic plow, I did so manually. An online course taught me everything I needed to know about writing VBA programs on Excel. My neck strained and my eyes swelled as I studied over several weeks. This strenuous activity pushed my understanding of a programming language, while I also grew in critical thinking for my everyday work. What I mean to say is, the specific learning of VBA turned out to be a benefit for everything else. Mental strain built up my mental strength. This exercise is one I am most sentimental over and one of the hardest mental exercises I’ve ever done.
This leads to my point. A worker (in specific, a knowledge worker) has one asset that either depreciates or appreciates in worth over their careers: their mind. The mind understands words and concepts, expresses ideas, and thinks. But what if the mind couldn’t understand? What if the mind had no clue how to think about a problem and how to express its own confusion? The lawn mower kept me from cutting grass by hand, and wonderfully so. But will AI keep me from straining my mind in a positive way? I would say so, and hasten to add, that aversion to mental strain was already happening. There is an argument out on the streets that states, “AI won’t replace workers, workers will be replaced by other workers who can use AI.” But that argument won’t work. Those who can’t write well and those who use AI to write both have the same issue: they can’t write well. Those who can’t read well and those who use AI to do the reading for them both have the same issue: they can’t read well. Those who can’t think well and those who use AI to do the thinking for them both have the same issue: they can’t think well.
A Sentimental Conclusion
Someone will suspect I am sentimental to the old ways and that I suggest we stop moving time forward, but that is only half true. I am sentimental to the old ways and I suggest we move time forward by going back to them. The old ways of writing and reading are humane and intimate. The new ways of writing and reading are inhumane and cold. Good writing used to mean making clear windows for readers to see through. New writing means making opaque walls that no one can understand. The old ways must continue if anyone is going to think more clearly in our industry. Let people read old books. Let people write how others used to write. I won’t give clear directions here; I’m sentimental at the moment and not pragmatic.
