[Newsletter] What Birthday Cakes Have in Common With AI Usage

Hi,

For years now, I've made my kids' birthday cakes myself. I used to order them from people far more skilled than me, and they looked perfect. But they were made by a stranger. My kids never watched the process, never licked the spoon, and I never felt the satisfaction of getting the cake done and them enjoying it.

Reading Atlantic's piece on how different types of thinkers work with AI reminded me of this. AI is a bit like a professional pastry chef: the end result looks flawless, but the reward is far less satisfying and far more generic than when you get there with your own imperfect skills and process. Hard labor and the feeling of achievement are tightly connected in people.

That's what this issue is really about: which workers AI will actually affect most, and how we're splitting into camps based on our relationship to hard work. Plus one light summer read — how "slowmaxxing" (getting the most out of tiny breaks) can help your wellbeing and productivity.

— Maja

Our Favorite Articles 💯

The Great AI Jobs U-Turn (WSJ)

A year ago, tech CEOs warned AI would wipe out jobs. Now they're singing a different tune, even as 154,000 tech layoffs this year say otherwise. 👉Keep reading.

The People Who Will Thrive in the AI Age (The Atlantic)

When intelligence is everywhere and cheap, the thing that actually sets you apart is your willingness to do the hard thinking yourself. 👉Read on.

A survey of thousands of tech workers finds the field splitting into two camps: those who feel amplified by AI and those who feel destabilized by it. 👉Find out more.