Why AI Adoption Intensifies Work and Rewards Mental Effort
This article examines how AI adoption is reshaping work, countering the narrative that AI will eliminate jobs. Research from ActivTrak analyzing over 10,000 workers shows that AI adoption actually intensifies work — time on email, messaging, and chat apps more than doubled, and business software usage rose by 94%. The piece argues that what will differentiate people in the AI age is not intelligence but their relationship with mental effort — those who embrace cognitive engagement and deep thinking will thrive, while those who avoid mental strain may struggle.
Key quotes
The time that these early adopters spent on email, messaging, and chat apps more than doubled.
Their use of business software rose by 94 percent.
What will differentiate people is not how smart they are but their relationship to mental effort.
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