Summary of the Core Content
This article discusses the paradoxical phenomenon where, as AI becomes more powerful, people become busier. The main argument is that while AI can lower the barriers to performing certain tasks (such as coding or content creation), it also leads to a cycle where skills become less valuable, resulting in more work and an abundance of mediocre content. What is truly scarce is not the type of skills that AI can replace, but rather human abilities such as judgment, unique perspectives that go against the consensus, and the ability to resist AI-induced distractions. The ultimate advice is to maintain our uniqueness in the AI era, to carefully select tasks, and to focus our attention on making valuable judgments.
Why hasn’t AI made us more relaxed, but rather busier?
You might think AI is here to take the burden off your shoulders—by automating repetitive tasks, you can relax and do other things. However, in reality, people who use AI daily tend to get even busier. For example, the AI scientist Yang Guangyu mentioned in the article is constantly busy making decisions for his intelligent systems, using nine screens to manage them, and he even feels proud of this dedication, which is more compelling than being addicted to games.
Why is this the case? Because AI gives people the illusion of having unlimited capabilities. If you couldn’t code or edit videos before, now you can with just a few words, which might lead you to assign yourself 100 new tasks. It’s like being given a lever that allows you to lift 100 bricks when you could only lift 10 before; while it seems more productive, it’s also more exhausting.
Skills become cheaper, judgment becomes more valuable
AI essentially reduces the cost of certain tasks. Coding used to require years of learning, but now it can be done in minutes with AI; research used to take hours, but now AI generates reports instantly. The problem is that everyone can use AI for these tasks, leading to an overabundance of mediocre content that no one finds interesting (for example, someone might post 20 articles on a public account a day, each with only 2-3 views).
In this context, judgment becomes valuable. AI can help with the execution of tasks, but it doesn’t understand the purpose or what constitutes good content. For instance, after Dan Hipp’s company automated its processes, the workload increased, but what really requires human effort is to set directions and make selections—decisions that AI cannot make.
Your uniqueness is what AI can’t take away
Many people fear being replaced by AI, but the article reminds us not to worry. While AI can homogenize basic skills (like coding or making PPTs), it can’t erase our individual uniqueness. The author uses a “balloon” metaphor to illustrate this: while a balloon’s smooth surface represents general abilities that can be standardized, each person has a unique “bump” or characteristic—such as a deep understanding of a particular field, a non-conventional opinion, or a keen attention to detail.
For example, the comedian宋飞 refused to let McKinsey optimize his work processes because the success of “Seinfeld” relied on his personal decisions about every line and edit. These small, critical judgments are what make his work unique. AI can do 99 steps for you, but the final decision of whether to proceed is what truly adds value.
The hidden trap of AI: divided attention
Even more concerning than being replaced by AI is the gradual erosion of our attention. AI can handle many mundane tasks (writing a paragraph with a picture, creating a PPT from text, converting text to video), but this can lead to fragmented attention. You might be focused on an important issue when suddenly distracted by an AI-generated image, and by the time you return to your task, the key idea might be lost.
The solution, according to Yang Guangyu, is to actively create time for yourself. He realized that being pushed by multiple tasks wasn’t as effective as carefully selecting the most important one to focus on. In the AI era, the scarce ability is not how much you can do, but how much you choose not to do—by rejecting 99 of the 100 tasks AI offers and focusing on the few that only you can judge properly.
In conclusion
AI is a tool, but don’t let it become your master. Protect your judgment and your ability to focus on what matters. Your uniqueness is what makes you irreplaceable in the AI-driven world.