𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐩

Reflections on MIT Sloan’s “What’s Your Edge? Rethinking Expertise in the Age of AI” (https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/whats-your-edge-rethinking-expertise-in-the-age-of-ai/)

A segment from the recent MIT Sloan article caught my attention—it explores how reliance on digital tools can erode human capabilities. The calculator weakened mental math. GPS dulled spatial awareness. And now, as AI begins to shoulder cognitive tasks, the question is: Will it erode our ability to think critically?

As someone who grew up bridging the pre- and post-digital eras, I’ve lived this transition. My father refused to let me use a calculator, no matter how much I insisted. Ironically, when I once claimed 40 x 40 equaled 160,000, I only proved his point. He didn’t need to rework my homework to spot errors—experience gave him an intuitive sense for when things were off. That’s what the article underscores: expertise isn’t just knowing how—it’s knowing when something doesn’t add up.

Today, AI offers immense value—but we risk outsourcing not just tasks, but the thinking behind them.

That said, I also see AI’s upside: freedom. Before GPS, motorcycle trips required meticulous planning. Now, I still know where I am, but I explore more—because GPS has my back when it’s time to recalibrate. I’ve discovered far more by wandering than I ever did by sticking to a rigid plan.

AI offers that same freedom in my professional life. As a senior leader, much of my time is consumed by operational demands. But AI is starting to shift that balance—automating the routine so I can refocus on strategic thinking, creativity, and the higher-value work leadership requires.

The trap isn’t the tool—it’s forgetting to keep our edge sharp while using it.