I've been pondering the concept of ROLE regarding AI for quite some time. After all, this is the first time in history that we can share thoughts, requests for activities, and collaborate with a 'non-human' entity that is becoming increasingly powerful: Generative AI. We need time to digest the new dynamics that are emerging.
When we deal with generative AI, we have a range of capabilities unlike anything provided by any computer, team, or tool before; we are far from discovering all this technology can do for us.
The key is to prepare ourselves while remaining active throughout our journey.
So, this post serves as a (long) reflection on the roles we might assign to AI based on a minimal set of roles we occupy in society: Students, Interns, Workers, and Managers. I recognize this is a minimal group, but I wanted to start with what I consider to be the most impacted roles by this novelty.
Take your time reading through it; it will be worth it.
Significant Transformations Are Understood Only Afterward
Imagine living in the late 1800s when the first automobiles debuted and forever changed our understanding of distance. No one could have predicted the radical transformation these machines would bring: paved roads, speed limits, age restrictions, and a regulated transportation system that we now take for granted.
An evolution that required decades of mistakes and tragic consequences before stabilizing. But it was better understood and defined only after much experience was gained. Just like with cars, we are facing uncertainty regarding AI where change is advancing faster than our ability to comprehend it fully.
Our task is to begin normalizing it—defining rules and learning how to relate properly with this new reality. However, as with automobiles, this requires errors, experiments, and plenty of dialogue. We are called upon to build a new relationship with technology that promises to amplify our capabilities while raising significant questions.
This brings about several important questions I've often asked during my workshops that I believe are worth exploring together:
How much can we trust delegating important tasks to a machine? How far can we go beyond our capacity for control?
To answer these questions effectively requires reflecting on what it truly means to have AI as a new type of collaborator—both in studying and working—as an active partner in our daily decisions and actions.
A Couple of Important Premises
To better address everything at hand, I believe it's crucial to lay some groundwork with certain premises, which I hope will help us better understand how to relate with this epochal change.
Premise 1: The Boundary Generation
The generation growing up has a unique opportunity: it is the last one capable of contrasting a pre-AI world with a post-AI world.
Children entering school today will only know the post-AI world, offering them new perspectives that they may share with us—likely finding solutions that we are only beginning to outline ourselves. However, it's up to us to ensure they mature correctly so they can build critical visions of the future while contributing positively toward regulating and improving technologies, transforming our world from perspectives unavailable to pre-AI generations have had access to.
On another note, those of us living pre-AI have made quite a few mistakes by exposing young generations too soon or carelessly allowing them access to smartphones, video games, and social media—only recognizing too late the enormous damage caused (If you want more awareness on this topic I recommend Jonathan Haidt's "The Anxious Generation").
I believe true success for any generation isn't just about leaving their mark but about preparing the ground for those who come after them. To do so effectively requires every individual to learn how to learn because, in such fast-changing environments, flexibility and curiosity matter more than certainties.
We can no longer afford to introduce new technologies without considering their consequences—as was done previously with social media and smartphones. We must guide today’s youth through the post-AI world mindfully so they can lead rather than be led by change.
Premise 2: Delegation to AI: Tool or Thought?
Reflecting on generational roles alongside our capacity for learning leads us to another crucial topic: how much should we delegate tasks over to AI? This isn't merely about trust or control; it's also about understanding what effective delegation entails while keeping critical thinking at its core.
In discussing this point further with Stefano Quaglia—a former education administrator in Verona now serving as principal at L. Mondin Institute—I encountered enlightening concepts around instrumental delegation versus cognitive delegation, both perfectly applicable within an AI context. I've touched upon these topics before in Hiring Artificial Intelligence in Business, but it's essential here too, since understanding these distinctions forms key foundations for developing healthy relationships with technology:
Instrumental Delegation: This refers purely to utilizing AI as practical tools tasked mainly with executing duties requiring time investment skills without extensive cognitive processing necessary during the preparation phases themselves, or specialized essentially delegating tasks where human competence surpasses machine complexity.
In real terms, think of classic surgical instruments like scalpels wielded by trained surgeons. The scalpel cuts well but relies entirely upon surgeon expertise regarding planning its proper use.
Within an AI context: consider virtual assistants organizing calendars or suggesting improvements on text content—AI facilitates day-to-day activities typically handled solo whilst humans retain overall quality control over final outcomes.
You could apply this framework across scenarios where you feel competent enough to delegate portions toward achieving personal goals while leveraging tools to enhance your own work prowess accordingly!
But what happens when you ask an AI system to do something outside your area of expertise where assessing results becomes impossible?
For instance—I can't draw well myself! When using AIs to generate imagery according to purely aesthetic preferences alone, lacks technical comprehension, specific contexts might render ineffective solutions based solely on subjective interpretations (You’ll find practical examples illustrating my limitations here)!
Thus, generative AIs might churn outing designs yet reveal numerous flaws experts notice upon deeper examination due visually appeal to application relevance aspects involved therein!
At such junctures, relying completely upon AIs translates task nature into cognitive domain—and accepting partial relinquishment thought processes potential judgment abilities stemming from reliance placed externalized entities instead!
Cognitive Delegation: Occurs whenever transfer decision-making capability lies externally (becoming reliant authorities/divine forces); fundamentally transferring responsibility critical reasoning analysis away from ourselves altogether—effectively assigning others duty perform mental gymnastics instead! Or worse still, allowing others take ownership decisions perhaps we'd otherwise undertaken independently!
AI doesn’t need to reiterate perform processes requiring considerable human mental exertion—from parsing complexducing near-perfect prose to datasets to pro answering intricate queries efficiently! Often, speed/complexity tasking extends beyond familiar terrains, necessitating judgments unattainable without putting faith into the systems’ own analytical capacities instead!!
Failing to read long articles attentively risks diminishing attention spans. Even aptitude focuses extended periods sifting texts’ essential points, thereby entrusting summaries of the entire thought process unto machines! Risks emerge notably losing inclination exercise mental prowess enhancing skills progressing forward ultimately reducing efforts necessary attain results desired along pathways pursued!
Not suggesting such arrangements aren’t useful! I personally adore generating images via AIs—it saves heaps precious time distilling salient insights articles and seeing systems produce code efficiently. however, there exist specific instances which, if habitual, could yield adverse effects instead of improving personally evolving intellectually speaking!!
For example—I struggle to delegate writing tasks entirely unless trivial—invariably feel produced outputs resemble ‘someone else’s work,’ making subsequent editing akin to composing ‘third party’ content altogether! Comprehending generated material’s intent, meaning why the specific language selected, proves strenuous, realizing ceding authority creates gaps in essential development areas still needing attention going forward!!
In summary, our expertise remains intact when handling assignments delegated to AIs, while simultaneously comprehending the operational mechanics behind those systems. We maintain comprehensive oversight and conduct critical evaluations, similar to supervising junior personnel and effectively managing operational engagements. However, it is essential to note that venturing beyond established boundaries and failing to allocate cognitive workload appropriately can lead to erroneous responses that might go unnoticed.
The Tool is AI, Not Us!
So – while surgeons will still need their scalpels – by delegating our thinking to AI, we might stop feeling the need to reason about daily practical actions and significantly diminish our cognitive abilities by handing them over to 'her.'
Instead of using AI as a tool to enhance the quality of our actions, learn new things, embrace change, and improve our communication skills, we risk becoming suddenly worse than before.
The AI boom in recent years is leading to its often improper use, primarily because roles that don't belong are being assigned to it. Out of laziness or lack of time to understand the limits, functionalities, and opportunities of different AI models we interact with, we risk losing control and becoming overly dependent without even realizing it. And when AI's roles aren't clearly defined, there's a risk of becoming passive, 'falling asleep at the wheel,' and getting used to efficiency levels that render us incapable of performing tasks independently. We risk becoming the tools ourselves.
But AI isn't just a risk; as we've all come to understand by now, it's also an extraordinary opportunity. Learning to use it critically can become a valuable ally not just for saving time or money but for pushing us to learn new things and think more deeply about what we're doing. And this gives me much hope—especially for younger generations—who can use it for exploration and creativity rather than simply cheating in school.
Our Role with AI
Returning to the car analogy: AI evolves even faster and penetrates society in ways still being studied; are we truly able to foresee its future impact or regulate it effectively?
Perhaps more than seeking definitive answers our role is like that of managers who must guide a transition, creating an environment where AI can be explored and understood responsibly. We can continue giving it clear roles to maintain clarity about our human role as coordinators and decision-makers. These changes must be faced head-on, tackled one by one until we evolve with them—but always remembering that powerful though they may be—they are tools—not people or super-entities.
What Roles Can We Assign AI?
An exercise I've found useful over these years is assigning specific roles to AI before starting any new activity. By defining operational limits and attributing characteristics from basic human figures—like managers or students—we might approach things through analogies—and see what roles they can play for us.
At Work: An Intern
In my workshops with companies—I enjoy sharing Ethan Mollick’s metaphor—one of this change’s greatest interpreters—who compares AI—to an intern! This metaphor immediately clarifies what role AIs could assume within work contexts: just like human interns perform specific (perhaps very complex) repetitive tasks under operational workers' supervision—and managers' control—allowing them more free time & energy towards strategic activities.
In School: A Tutor or Coach
The temptation exists—to use AIs—as if they were class-toppers—providing solutions & writing essays exactly how teachers want—which leads directly towards cognitive delegation—with all negative effects previously mentioned added onto those from social media smartphones & video games further impoverishing post-AI generations—and appears easiest way students could utilize AIs—but instead if they were given role—as tutors/coaches—not replacing teachers/classmates but helping students learn faster answering/asking questions providing personalized explanations/suggestions/motivation guiding learning journey focused supportively enormous advantages would arise—what do I mean by tutor/coach?
Tutors know more about specific subject matter, offering suggestions/questions and aiding student learning without immediate explanations/problem solutions, while coaches focus person-oriented, not necessarily knowing more about subjects yet motivating/giving practical advice promoting growth—for simplicity, let’s combine them:
But It's Not Enough...
Students also need operational activities, while workers require learning evolution & motivation too!
Consider students—they should not completely rely on AIs for critical thinking—however, this doesn't mean they can't assist through internships either—
AIs could become operational tools searching information, automating repetitive tasks enhancing presentation graphics, verifying hypotheses, even assisting study-wise by proposing personalized quizzes explaining complex topics differently, guiding mental map creation—
Simultaneously, students benefit from having supportive tutors/coaches facilitating concept consolidation, maintaining motivation targeted personal growth—
And within workplaces?
Those working there need both roles equally well! AIs act like interns automating mundane/repetitive activities, freeing up time towards strategic assignments, yet workers derive immense benefits through tutors/coaches learning procedures, delving deeper product/normative knowledge, receiving motivational support tackling challenging complexities—the delegation demands final control though—
Human interns can't relate directly since verifying output quality eludes their capabilities, needing field experience, leaving experienced colleagues responsible for controlling assuming accountability instead—
So, How Do We Proceed?
Simple answer: open these three roles universally!
Workers require tutor/coach support alongside operational task assistance helping grow and consolidate competencies keeping motivation high—
Students might benefit equally from employing intern capacity automating tasks without sacrificing educational/personal/professional advancement assistance—
Studying and working aren’t separated worlds anymore—we’re living in times when relying solely upon school-learned knowledge executing professions shouldn't happen—we all must keep evolving and continually learning!
AIs turn into invaluable allies addressing transformation regardless of position held—the secret lies in discerning when employed operatively versus educationally growing, maintaining a clear focus upon critical thinking centrality! Remember: AIs can teach us how best learn!
No one remains immune—it isn’t something only less-experienced individuals should practice—for instance, this interview featuring celebrated physicist Adam Brown highlights many illustrious colleagues utilizing LLMs tutoring refreshing topics, staying research-frontline informed—
We’re All on the Same Level!
Students, interns, employees, managers—everyone has new opportunities. In the pre-AI world, studying was mostly an individual or group activity, sometimes with expert support. Today, thanks to the power of AI—both Generative and otherwise—this landscape has expanded with new possibilities, drastically changing how we approach tasks, whether they are learning or work-related.
What has changed is not just how we perform tasks but also who we can involve. The range of possible decisions has broadened, bringing new types of collaborators—both human and digital—to our fingertips. This offers us the chance to integrate AI with traditional methods while keeping our identity and human role clear.
If we define a task as any study or work activity, in the pre-AI world, we had three main options—all involving other humans:
Alone: Tackle the task independently.
In groups (peers): Collaborate with other people.
With experts: Consult those with specialist skills.
And, of course, use various tools invented throughout history.
With Generative AI enabling us to "dialogue with another entity," additional digital possibilities are now available:
AI Tutor: Learn something new through tailored explanations, clarifications, and deep dives.
AI Coach: Enhance skills, boost motivation, or receive practical and personalized feedback.
AI Intern: Delegate operational and repetitive tasks while maintaining control over the final outcome.
Faced with any task—be it a school project, a business strategy, or solving a complex problem—we can now create scenarios involving different actors, both human and digital. This ecosystem of collaboration enriched by AI allows us to enable deeper insights and decision-making using natural language and tools previously unavailable. Whether you’re a student, employee, manager, or knowledge explorer—the key is to always maintain the centrality of human thought and choose the right support for each challenge. Or, as I like to say, enjoy AI responsibly!
So What?
Our task isn’t simple, but it's necessary. We must prepare ourselves and future generations for an increasingly AI-influenced world without losing sight of our humanity and ability to guide change. The questions we face are complex—and so will be the answers.
But one thing is sure: we can choose to tackle them together by fostering an open dialogue that is critical and collaborative where students, teachers, managers, and technologists work side by side toward defining a more mindful future—a future where AI serves humanity rather than replacing what makes us unique. We are at a stage with AI similar to where cars were in the late 1800s: traveling towards an uncertain tomorrow.
However, one certainty remains: our capacity to learn, observe, and adapt is still our greatest asset—and perhaps this marks yet another beginning in a journey far greater than ourselves.
See you soon!
Max
TL;DR Highlights:
I know I've written quite a bit; here’s a quick summary for those in a hurry 🙂
Comparison with Cars: AI is in its early revolution stage, comparable to that of cars—its impacts require time rules adaptation before stabilizing—and cannot be overly regulated until experience accumulates.
Delegation to AI: Two types are distinguished:
Instrumental Delegation: The AI performs specific tasks under human control.
Cognitive Delegation: The AI makes decisions in areas outside our expertise posing risks for critical thinking.
Risks:
Loss of human cognitive abilities.
Superficial improper use leading dependency inefficiency issues.
Assigning roles without understanding the limits of AI can limit its potential and pose threats that must be recognized and managed effectively.
Recommended Roles for AI:
Whether studying working AIs proves useful when assigned these roles
Intern: Performs operational repetitive tasks efficiently and effectively!
Tutor Coach Support Learning Growth Individually Tailored Solutions Enhance Skills Knowledge Base Continually Evolve Over Time
Key Message: AI is a tool to enhance human capabilities, not a substitute. Awareness is needed to make the most of it without losing control. Both workers and learners need to give different roles to AI and recognize them when using it.
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