New research suggests there are only three types of AI users: those who augment their work with AI, those who are augmented by AI, and those who are not affected by AI at all.
The distinction has nothing to do with intelligence levels, but rather how individuals interact with mental effort, according to a study by ActivTrak, which analyzed the digital activity of over 21,290 participants. What’s surprising is that AI hasn’t led to a mass exodus of jobs, as many had predicted.
The Augmenters
The majority of participants, around 60%, fall into the augmenter category, meaning they use AI to boost their productivity and performance. These users often use AI-powered tools to streamline tasks, automate repetitive work, and gain insights that would be difficult to obtain through human analysis alone.
The study found that augmenters tend to have the highest levels of mental effort, but also experience significant benefits from AI. On average, they reported a 40% increase in productivity and a 25% reduction in time spent on mundane tasks.
The Augmented
About 20% of participants fall into the augmented category, meaning they rely heavily on AI to perform tasks and make decisions. These users often use AI-powered virtual assistants or decision-making tools to automate tasks that would typically require human intervention.
The study found that the augmented users tend to experience a significant reduction in mental effort, with an average decrease of 35% in cognitive load. However, they also reported a 20% decrease in creativity and problem-solving skills.
The Unaffected
The remaining 20% of participants fall into the unaffected category, meaning they don’t use AI at all or rely on it minimally. These users often work in industries or roles that don’t lend themselves to AI adoption, such as creative fields or hands-on trades.
The study found that the unaffected users tend to have the highest levels of job satisfaction and reported no significant benefits or drawbacks from AI.
What this means
The study’s findings suggest that AI is not a replacement for human workers, but rather a tool to enhance and augment human capabilities. As AI continues to evolve, it’s likely that the majority of users will fall into the augmenter category, using AI to boost their productivity and performance.
