The AI era may be a difficult time for those who value process over results

Introduction

Now that AI has permeated our daily lives, people's feelings toward the same tools vary widely. This likely stems from fundamental differences in human nature regarding what we value.

Broadly speaking, there are those who value the process and those who value the results. This difference is not about superiority or inferiority, but simply a difference in the 'source of joy,' yet in the AI era, the contrast between these two becomes stark.

The 'rosy world' of those who love results

For those who value results, AI is a tool that brings a world more brilliant than ever before. This is because 'results' that previously required vast amounts of time and effort can now be obtained one after another with overwhelming speed and accuracy.

AI does not hesitate. It immediately presents a decent answer via the shortest path. For those who love achievement, mastering AI is the very practice of a managerial mindset that produces results on a scale impossible for one person alone. Output increases, which directly translates into evaluations and numbers. Returns that could previously only be obtained by paying the cost of 'the messiness of the process' are now obtained with minimal burden. In this loop of pleasure, AI becomes the ultimate booster.

The 'sense of loss' for those who love the process

On the other hand, for those who value the process, AI can become a source of a certain 'sense of loss.'

For them, thinking, getting lost, and taking the long way around were rewards in themselves. Struggling to find the right words and engaging in trial and error—in those moments of 'struggle,' one sometimes encounters deep insights or emotions they hadn't noticed themselves. Just as a potter gains inspiration from the feel of kneading clay, the friction of thought was the very source that enriched their inner self and created unique expressions.

However, AI strips away that 'friction' in the name of efficiency. It feels like defeating the final boss automatically before even learning the controls. Even though you won, there is no sense of accomplishment, and a feeling remains as if you have missed out on something important. This can be called a certain sense of alienation toward 'results in which I was not involved.'

The pressure of the 'virtue of efficiency'

Furthermore, modern society exerts strong pressure that 'efficiency is virtue.' As time performance (taipa) is emphasized, it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify 'taking the trouble to do things.'

AI is also a 'mirror of the will.' Leaving things entirely to AI is an exposure of one's loss of interest in learning and thinking. However, the feeling that process-oriented people have of 'wanting to do it myself' cannot be measured by the logic of efficiency alone. The current challenge is how to reconcile this with the speed of a society where taking the long way around for the sake of enjoyment might be considered 'inefficient.'

How to draw the line

To survive in this era, you need to consciously decide where to draw the line with AI within yourself.

Leaving things to AI should not be mere abandonment, but a 'delegation of thought' to focus on higher-level judgments. However, that does not mean becoming 'indifferent.' It means verifying AI output yourself and taking responsibility for it as your own story. For example, as OpenAI research shows, changes in job roles are inevitable, but what is required there is judgment based on 'understanding of meaning' and 'curiosity' that AI cannot possess.

Also, as with 'EPOCH' proposed by an MIT research team, the process of honing human-specific abilities such as empathy, ethics, and vision becomes important. Having a 'sacred domain' where you intentionally do not use AI is also an option. By drawing concrete boundaries, such as 'I will at least set the initial question myself' or 'I will completely dismantle the AI draft and reconstruct it in my own words,' you can maintain involvement in the process. You are required to have an attitude of presenting your unique trial and error with pride as a 'compelling story' that AI cannot replace. Precisely because we live in an era overflowing with AI slop, the process of 'curation (payoff judgment)' to discern what results are valuable is where the essential meaning of human involvement lies.

Conclusion

The AI era certainly has aspects that are difficult for those who value process over results. However, precisely because it is a world where everything is fully optimized and anyone can produce 'decent results,' I believe that 'words and forms with a tangible feel' that remain after intentionally taking time, getting lost, and taking the long way around will begin to have a quiet value more than ever before.

The dedication and messy trial and error of the process-oriented are never a waste. They should become a map that only they can draw, giving depth and thickness to a flat and smooth world.

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