Introduction

Everyone is talking about “efficiency through AI,” yet I often hear, “We introduced AI, but nothing got easier.” That isn’t AI’s fault; the reasons sit deeper. Here are my notes on why work doesn’t actually get easier after rolling out AI.

Avoiding the Core Problems Is Why Things Don’t Get Easier

The core issue is simple: we avoid the real problems. The tedious work—documenting the current state, naming the true friction, clarifying responsibilities, gathering stakeholders—feels painful, so the escape hatch becomes “let’s install a tool” or “let’s hand it to consultants.” Delegation turns into the default, and unsurprisingly the pain remains.

Some Things Feel Easier

AI does make certain tasks feel lighter. It can draft options, polish explanations for a boss, summarize research, and even shortlist vendors, while consultants happily handle implementation details. The surface burden drops, yet the hardest part—pinpointing the actual problem—stays untouched, so the sense of ease is superficial.

In Reality, You’re Just “Making Mistakes Faster”

Using AI without a crisp problem statement accelerates the wrong work. Vague prompts still yield confident answers, and tools get built quickly, but the root issue stays. You don’t ease the workload; you just speed up the confusion.

But This Isn’t a Bad Thing

That doesn’t make AI pointless. Most organizations avoid core problems, which creates demand for people who can pair technical skill with the ability to frame real issues. Human nature keeps generating work, and AI may even amplify that need.

What Do You Want to Become?

Do you want to rely on AI to make things “easy,” or do you want to be the person who can name the real problem? Thinking is hard, and AI may reduce how often we practice it, which only raises the value of those who do. I want to be in the second group.

Conclusion

I use AI constantly and still wrestle with framing problems. Thinking is tiring, and I avoid it when I can, but I don’t want to lose the ability to identify the real issue with my own mind, even while using the tools at hand.