Speed vs. Depth: How Using AI for Work Affects Our Confidence

A study published by the American Psychological Association has found a negative correlation between the use of AI tools in the workplace and workers' confidence in their own abilities — raising uncomfortable questions about the hidden cost of productivity gains.

The findings come at a time when AI adoption in the workplace is accelerating rapidly. From chatbots drafting emails to coding assistants generating software, AI tools promise speed and efficiency. But the APA study suggests that the more workers rely on AI to complete tasks, the less confident they feel about performing those same tasks independently.

The research points to a pattern that psychologists describe as cognitive offloading — the tendency to depend on external tools to reduce mental effort, much like relying on GPS erodes spatial navigation skills over time. When workers consistently delegate thinking to AI, they may lose trust in their own judgment and problem-solving capabilities.

This creates a paradox: AI makes people more productive in the short term but may undermine the very competence it's meant to augment. The study found that workers who used AI extensively reported feeling less capable when asked to complete similar tasks without AI assistance. The effect was particularly pronounced among less experienced workers, who had built less foundational skill before beginning to offload tasks.

Not all AI use showed the same effect. Workers who used AI as a supplement — for example, generating an initial draft that they then substantially revised — reported less erosion of confidence than those who relied on AI outputs with minimal modification. The distinction suggests that how you use AI matters as much as whether you use it.

What This Means For You: If you're using AI tools at work — and odds are you are — be intentional about how you use them. Let AI accelerate your work, not replace your thinking. Review, question, and refine what AI produces rather than accepting it wholesale. Your confidence in your own skills is a career asset, and once it erodes, it's hard to rebuild. Use AI as a tool, not a crutch.