“…a lot of work is really boring and not particularly meaningful. If we acknowledge that, we can turn our attention to improving the human experience of work.”
– Ethan Mollick, Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI
This is one of the promises that AI brings — elimination of boring and meaningless work. It’s one of the things I talk about here often. I’m a believer.
But of course, “boring” and “not particularly meaningful” are in the eye of the beholder.
Because what is boring?
Is insurance boring? What about assembly line work? Sitting at a desk?
What is not particularly meaningful? Is working the register at a fast food chain meaningful? Data entry? Telemarketer?
What one person finds boring, another finds peaceful and comfortable — pleasant, even. What one finds meaningless, another sees as a stepping stone and connective tissue to the greater whole.
The promise of AI isn’t about judging what is boring or meaningless work.
It’s about the promise of redesigning the system — so more people feel more engaged, respected, and useful.
AI is just a tool. We’re still the designers.
