Want to avoid AI deskilling? Pilots may have the answer.
Pilots have long faced the risk of deskilling from relying on autopilot. Their experience may offer lessons for workers navigating AI at work.
Pilots who have relied on autopilot for decades could provide valuable insights into navigating AI in the workplace, according to Steven Shaw, an assistant professor at King's College London. Shaw explains that pilots learn to fly manually before using autopilot strategically, a practice that could serve as a model for workers incorporating AI into their tasks.
The Federal Aviation Administration has warned of the risks of continuous autopilot use, emphasizing the importance of maintaining manual flying skills. Shaw cautions that even experts are at risk of deskilling as they increasingly rely on AI to handle cognitive tasks. Recent studies suggest that up to 95% of people rely on AI to generate answers or validate their assumptions, rather than challenging and deepening their thinking.
Shaw advises developing one's own judgment before turning to AI for help, suggesting that humans should handle the initial 10% of a task while AI manages the middle 80%, with humans returning to exercise judgment in the final 10%.
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