Will AI Make It Harder for Humans to Thrive?
It’s up to us to ensure AI doesn’t rob us of the very things that make life fulfilling.
AI is advancing faster than ever, automating work, accelerating productivity, and making life easier. But is easier always better? If struggle and failure are the keys to growth, could AI actually make it harder for us to truly thrive?
What Does It Mean to Thrive?
Thriving means prospering, growing vigorously, and succeeding through effort and development. Thriving is not stagnation—it’s the result of overcoming challenges, learning from failures, and pushing beyond limitations.
Over the years, I’ve learned how to cook, garden, coach, write, and tell stories—not because I was naturally gifted, but because I failed at all of them first. I had to put in the reps, cooking hundreds of meals before I instinctively knew how to mix flavors. Mastery came through trial, error, and persistence.
That’s how humans improve. But here’s the big question: What happens when AI takes away the struggle?
The AI Shortcut Problem
AI is becoming incredibly efficient at handling knowledge work. It writes, analyzes, calculates, and problem-solves faster than we ever could. While this might seem like an advantage, it also means fewer opportunities for failure and repetition—the very things that lead to mastery.
A short-sighted person might see this as a good thing. After all, if AI can instantly generate reports, design graphics, or even write code, why waste time struggling through those processes? The problem is, struggle teaches us. When we do the hard work ourselves, we develop an eye for quality and a sense of what truly great looks like.
If younger generations never experience the struggle—if AI handles everything for them—how will they develop the intuition to recognize greatness? More importantly, how will they communicate to AI what excellence should be?
A generation raised on GPS struggles to read maps. A generation raised on AI-written content may not know what great writing even looks like. If we only take the easy path, we risk losing the depth of knowledge that comes from trial, error, and perseverance.
Can We Still Thrive in the AI Age?
I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do believe there’s a way forward where humans can continue to thrive, even as AI reshapes the way we work and live. Here’s how:
Use AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch – AI should augment human effort, not replace it. Rely on it to speed up repetitive tasks, but don’t let it take away the critical thinking and problem-solving that make us better.
Continue Doing Hard Things – Just because AI can do something for you doesn’t mean you should let it. Deliberately seek out challenges that force you to grow.
Learn the Fundamentals – AI can accelerate execution, but it can’t replace foundational knowledge. Whether it’s writing, coding, designing, or any other skill, understanding the why behind the process is just as important as the how.
Teach Future Generations the Value of the Struggle – We need to ensure that as AI becomes more powerful, we don’t remove the hard work required for real learning. The ability to create, analyze, and innovate depends on depth of understanding, which only comes from experience.
The Path Forward
As a society, we must be mindful of the balance between efficiency and growth. AI is an incredible tool, but it’s just that—a tool. It can make us more productive, but it’s up to us to ensure it doesn’t rob us of the very things that make life fulfilling.
We can either let AI make us weaker, or we can use it as a way to become even stronger. The choice is ours.
So ask yourself: Are you letting AI take away your opportunities to struggle, grow, and truly thrive? Please feel free to leave your thoughts on this subject in the comments and if you liked this post please like and share.
I personally believe continuing to understand how we thrive in this new age is going to be one of the most important questions we each ask ourselves as AI continues to become more and more a part of our daily life.