Is AI Making Us Lazy or Just Changing How We Work?

According to Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index, nearly 70% of business leaders say they wouldn’t hire someone who lacks AI skills. Even more surprising? Almost three-quarters would rather hire a less experienced candidate with AI skills over a more seasoned professional who doesn’t use them.

That tells you just how quickly AI is becoming not just a useful tool, but an expected part of how we work. From writing and designing to planning and coding, AI tools are baked into many of our day-to-day workflows. But with all that convenience comes one big question that keeps popping up in online debates, comment sections, and even office conversations:

“Is AI making us lazy?”

Some argue that these tools encourage over-reliance and reduce our willingness to think deeply or solve problems on our own. Others say AI has made them more productive, creative, and focused by taking repetitive tasks off their plate.

So we took this conversation to our team.

In this post, we asked our teammates how AI has changed the way they work, whether it’s helped or hurt their productivity and focus, and how they define “laziness” in a world where automation is becoming the norm. The responses were eye-opening, nuanced, and surprisingly relatable.

Let’s get into it…

Q1: What’s one task AI has significantly improved for you, and one you still prefer doing manually?

Belema: AI really comes through when I’m brainstorming UI ideas or drafting quick content like bios or emails; it’s a great way to beat creative blocks. But when it’s time to design, I still prefer doing that by hand. There’s just something about having full control that I enjoy.

Anita: AI helps me a lot when I’m scripting content. If I hit a wall or run out of lines, I’ll quickly share what I have with an AI tool, and just like that, I’m back on track. It’s like having a creative partner to bounce off ideas with. But when it comes to researching and adding hashtags, I prefer doing that myself. It feels more personal, and I can tailor them better to the content and audience.

Felix: One of the most helpful things AI does for me is finding free images quickly; a huge time-saver. But when it comes to brainstorming, I prefer doing that manually. There’s something about the old-fashioned way that helps me think better.

Ruth: For me, it’s mostly work-related tasks. Anything that would normally take a long time to research is much quicker with AI. Honestly, I can’t think of anything outside of work that I don’t use AI for; it’s become a big part of my workflow.

Q2: Has AI made it easier or harder for you to stay focused at work?

Felix: AI has actually helped me stay more focused, mostly by taking care of the repetitive stuff and freeing me up to concentrate on higher-level tasks.

Ruth: It’s definitely helped me stay focused. Since I mainly use AI for work tasks, I actually see it as part of the job. When I’m using AI, I’m working; it doesn’t distract me.

Belema: It’s a bit of both. AI helps me focus by speeding up research and helping me organize my thoughts more clearly. But if I’m not careful, I can end up jumping between tools and getting distracted. So for me, it’s about finding the right balance.

Anita: It’s made work a lot easier, honestly. I can get things done faster and with less stress, which naturally helps me stay focused.

Q3: Do you think AI is making us lazy, or just changing how we work? Why?

Anita: No, I don’t think AI is making us lazy. At least, not for me. I use it more like a creative partner; it gives me broader insight and helps sharpen my ideas, not replace them. It’s more of a support system than a shortcut.

Belema: I don’t see it as laziness at all. AI just shifts our energy away from the boring or repetitive stuff and gives us more room for creative thinking. That said, it can make us lazy if we rely on it for everything without making an effort to grow or improve on our own.

Ruth: I don’t think AI is making us lazy. If anything, it’s helping us work faster and more efficiently. It’s changing the way we approach tasks, not replacing our efforts.

Felix: I think AI is simply changing the way we work. It automates repetitive or time-consuming tasks, so we can focus on the parts of our work that actually require brainpower and creativity. It’s not about being lazy, it’s about working smarter.

Q4: Do you worry that overusing AI might make people less skilled or creative over time? Why or why not?

Ruth: I don’t think it will make people less skilled. It reminds me of when the calculator was first invented; people feared it would kill math skills. But over time, we saw that it didn’t happen. In the same way, AI can make people more skilled, especially those who know how to use it well. That said, there will always be people who misuse it or lean on it too heavily and lose their edge.

Belema: Yes, I think overusing AI could dull creativity and slow down skill-building, especially if we stop practicing or thinking critically. It’s easy to just accept AI’s answers, but we still need to challenge ourselves and keep learning.

Anita: Yeah, I do worry. Some people have seen what AI can do and now just rely on it for everything. That mindset can kill initiative; they no longer want to think for themselves or try first before turning to AI.

Felix: I believe anything used excessively can be harmful, and AI is no exception. If we rely on it too much, there’s a risk we’ll stop developing our skills, whether it’s thinking creatively, problem-solving, or just being resourceful the old-fashioned way.

Q5: How do you personally define “lazy” in the age of AI?

Belema: To me, laziness today is using AI to avoid thinking altogether, just copying what it gives you without trying to understand or improve on it. AI should be used to boost your creativity and sharpen your ideas, not replace your effort or learning.

Anita: I’d say it’s when we forget that AI was designed to assist, not do the whole job for us. Once we stop putting in any effort and rely completely on the tool, that’s when it turns into laziness.

Ruth: To me, laziness is refusing to engage even when tools like AI have made it easier than ever to take action. If you have access to something that can boost your work and still choose not to use it meaningfully, that’s where laziness starts.

Felix: For me, being lazy with AI means depending on it for tasks you’re fully capable of doing yourself, especially without even trying first. It’s less about using the tool and more about whether you’re letting it do all the thinking for you.

Final Thoughts

I love AI, and I think it’s safe to say it has completely transformed the way we work, mostly in amazing ways. Tasks that used to take hours now take minutes, and we can focus more on creativity and strategy instead of getting buried in repetitive work.

But I also believe AI has changed what we define as laziness. What many people don’t realize is that the quality of results you get from AI is directly tied to the quality of instructions (or prompts) you give it. These days, I see people typing a one-line prompt and expecting magic; no iteration, no refinement, no real effort. And in my opinion, that is what laziness looks like in the age of AI.

Using AI effectively takes skill. There’s a reason why “prompt engineering” is now a real and valuable discipline. The tool is only as powerful as the person using it.

A huge thank you to my teammates for sharing their honest thoughts and experiences; this article wouldn’t have been the same without them!

If you enjoyed this piece, check out some of our other reads:

10 Powerful ChatGPT Hacks I Use Every Day
How to Protect Your Privacy While Using ChatGPT

Until next time,

Ciao!