Want to avoid AI deskilling? Pilots may have the answer.
This article examines the concept of 'deskilling' in the workplace by drawing parallels between pilots' reliance on autopilot and the modern workforce's increasing dependence on AI. Experts suggest that, like pilots, workers should occasionally perform tasks manually to maintain their cognitive sharpness.
Why it matters
As AI integration becomes ubiquitous, understanding how to maintain human expertise and critical thinking skills is vital for long-term professional development.
Pilots' reliance on autopilot may offer workers clues on how to navigate AI in the workplace. aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Pilots have faced the risk of deskilling for decades because of their reliance on autopilot. Steven Shaw of King's College London said they can show workers how to stay sharp with AI. "Even experts are at risk of deskilling," he said. Pilots have relied on autopilot for decades. Their experience could offer a lesson for workers increasingly relying on AI. Steven Shaw, an assistant professor at King's College London and coauthor of a widely cited study on "cognitive surrender," drew a parallel between pilots' reliance on automation and workers outsourcing their thinking and delegating their work to AI . "We've had autopilot in planes for a very, very long time," Shaw said, speaking at a recent OxGen Summit panel.
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