Is AI Ruining Your Career Development?

The Trap of Artificial Intelligence and Laziness: Your Career Could Suffer if You’re Not Careful

The Danger of Excessive AI Use on Development

The rapid advance of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming both the world of work and our way of thinking. According to a Stanford University study, the United Arab Emirates, ranked as the fifth most advanced country globally in AI application, is making remarkable strides in technology. However, HR experts increasingly warn that excessive use of AI not only weakens our cognitive skills but can also narrow our career opportunities in the long run.

According to recent research conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), people who regularly use large language models (LLM) for essay writing are less inclined to actively engage their brains over time. Among the study participants, the group using LLM performed the weakest on linguistic, behavioral, and neurological levels. The quality of essays deteriorated over time, with participants increasingly using copied content and performing minimal thinking.

Why Is Mental Comfort Dangerous?

Thinking skills are like muscles: if you don't train them regularly, they weaken. If we use AI for every task, whether it’s writing, planning, or even decision-making, we are sidelining our own brains. This can be particularly dangerous in jobs that require creativity, intuition, strategic thinking, or high emotional intelligence.

Experts warn that AI should not completely take over. True development begins when human capabilities are complemented by AI opportunities—but not replaced. Active thinking and learning from personal experiences remain essential for developing leadership skills.

What Can Employees and Employers Do?

Experts suggest that the following key competencies will be essential in the future:

critical thinking

problem-solving

creativity

intuition

communication and teamwork

emotional intelligence

data interpretation and analytical skills

These are areas where AI cannot fully replace humans. Investing in developing these can provide a competitive advantage in the long run, especially in environments where automation becomes the norm.

For employers, consciously seeking balance is also important. Alongside the introduction of AI tools, they need to ensure that employees continue to develop and have opportunities for independent thinking, making mistakes, learning, and brainstorming.

AI: Partner or Threat?

AI offers enormous opportunities—but it only becomes a true partner if used consciously. If we let it think for us, we not only become mentally lazy in the long run but also slow down our career progression. The worker of the future will be one who finds the balance: leveraging the advantages offered by AI, but not allowing their own abilities to wither.

(The article is based on a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).)