It's Not Jobs That AI Takes Away, It's the 'Joy of Struggling'

Introduction

An era where AI does everything for us. Aren't people starting to divide into those who say, "It's so convenient, it's the best!" and those who say, "Something feels... missing"?

Actually, this is a story about how the landscape of the AI era changes completely depending on whether you find joy in the 'result' or the 'process'.

For the 'Result-Oriented,' AI is the 'Ultimate Cheat Code'

For those who value results, AI is a god-tier tool.

Work that used to take days now comes back in minutes with a "Yes, it's done." AI doesn't hesitate. It hits the mark with a decent answer via the shortest route. For the result-oriented, this is like playing the role of a CEO running a company all by yourself has become a reality.

Output skyrockets, and that directly translates to evaluation. Returns that previously required the cost of "gritty effort" can now be obtained with minimal labor. In this pleasure loop, AI is the ultimate booster.

Congratulations, result-oriented people. Your era has arrived.

For the 'Process-Oriented,' AI is a 'Game Cleared Without You'

On the other hand, for those who value the process, AI is a somewhat difficult existence.

For them, thinking, getting lost, and taking the long way around were rewards in themselves. Struggling to find the right words. Rewriting over and over. In those moments of "struggle," you encounter deep insights and emotions you wouldn't have noticed otherwise. Just as a potter gains inspiration from the feel of kneading clay, the friction of thought was the source that created one-of-a-kind expressions.

However, AI cleanly shaves away that "friction" in the name of efficiency.

Imagine it like having the final boss automatically defeated before you even learned the controls in an RPG.

Even though you won, there's zero sense of accomplishment. Even after seeing the ending, you can only think, "...so?" This is a kind of alienation from a result you weren't involved in.

Isn't the atmosphere of "efficiency is justice" a bit stifling?

What's even tougher is the modern society's "long live efficiency" vibe.

In an era where time performance (taipa) is emphasized, justifying "taking the trouble to do things" is becoming increasingly difficult. The day might be near when people say, "Wait, you're still writing that by hand?"

AI is also a "mirror of will." Leaving everything to AI is also an exposure of having no interest in learning or thinking. But the feeling that process-oriented people have of "wanting to do it myself on purpose" cannot be measured by the logic of efficiency.

A society where taking the long way around for the sake of enjoyment is considered 'inefficient'— therein lies the difficulty of living for the process-oriented.

So, what should we do?

To enjoy living through this era, the only way is to draw your own boundaries with AI.

Delegating to AI shouldn't just be about dumping tasks; it should be a 'delegation of thought' to allow you to focus on higher-level judgments. However, that never means becoming 'indifferent.' It means verifying AI output yourself and taking responsibility for it as your own story.

OpenAI research shows that changes in job roles due to the emergence of AI are inevitable. But what is required there is judgment based on 'understanding meaning' and 'curiosity' that AI cannot replicate.

Also, as suggested by the MIT research team's 'EPOCH', the process of honing human-specific abilities like empathy, ethics, and vision is becoming increasingly important.

Specifically, why not try drawing these kinds of 'boundaries'?

• Ask the initial question yourself

• Completely dismantle the AI draft and reconstruct it in your own words

• Maintain a sacred domain where you 'never use AI'

In an era overflowing with mass-produced AI content (AI slop), the essential meaning of human involvement lies in the 'connoisseur' process of discerning what constitutes a valuable result.

Conclusion

The AI era is certainly difficult for those who value the process.

But precisely because it is a world where everything is optimized and anyone can produce 'decent results,' I believe that 'tangible words and forms' that remain after daring to take time, get lost, and take the long way around will hold more value than ever before.

The dedication and gritty trial-and-error of the process-oriented are never in vain. They are a map that only you can draw, adding depth and substance to the flat, smooth world of AI.

Hang in there, process-oriented people. Your joy is not over yet.

Are you a 'results-oriented' person or a 'process-oriented' person? Why not take a moment to rethink how you engage with AI?