The New Intelligence Shift Part 3: Human Capability Development Outpacing Identity

When Your Output Outpaces Your Self-Concept
There is an increasingly important aspect of the psychological impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that we can refer to as "Identity Lag". This occurs when an individual's ability to complete tasks outpaces their own internal perception of their abilities and skills. For example, someone who previously spent several hours drafting a memo, analyzing data, or designing a potential solution to a problem will be able to perform these same tasks in just a few minutes with the assistance of AI. The results of this process are typically of higher quality and much more precise than those produced prior to the introduction of AI, but the individual may still be mentally processing and attempting to reconcile the disparity between their previous level of performance and the current enhanced level of performance. As a result of this mental processing, individuals may find themselves having doubtful thoughts such as "Did I really create this?", or "Is this still considered my work?"- which should not be classified as feelings of insecurity or fraudulence, but rather as the individual's brain processing the disparity and making an attempt to update their internal sense of who they are.

In addition to the fact that the human identity develops at a slower rate than a person's ability to accomplish tasks, particularly when technological advancements remove barriers that were once present to completing a task and thus impacted one's sense of accomplishment and pride in the completion of a task. There is also the issue of the perceived discrepancy between one's past level of effort and their current level of productivity.

Speed Will Never Be A Threat To Authenticity
For the vast majority of human history, the amount of effort put forth into completing a particular task has served as the barometer for determining the value of the completed work. Implicitly and explicitly, we have all been taught that work must be slow, manual, and earned through great amounts of hard work in order to be deemed as legitimate. AI eliminates this equation. Therefore, when quality products or solutions arrive quicker than anticipated, the mind will resist the quality product or solution. However, the speed of the creation of a product or solution has never been a threat to the authenticity of the product or solution created. The printing press did not devalue writing. Spreadsheets did not reduce the legitimacy of accountants. E-mail did not minimize the impact of leadership. Every single one of these innovations changed the way in which work was performed, and therefore, the manner in which each innovation affected the legitimacy of the person performing the work.

Tools Have Always Enhanced Human Vision
Creativity has never been limited to an individual performing every single task on their own. Film directors do not operate every camera. City managers do not personally write every single policy. Engineers do not manufacture every single part of a product by hand. Tools provide individuals with greater reach; tools do not eliminate the creator of the product. In the case of AI, it enhances synthesis, pattern identification, and creative expression, but it does not establish the purpose of the product or service. The individual is the originator of the question, the values, and the final decision regarding whether or not a particular project or endeavor should be pursued.

Why the Discomfort Is Actually a Growth Signal
The feeling of discomfort many users experience about their use of AI is not a warning sign- it is a signal that indicates they have entered a transition stage. It parallels other transitions where individuals take on greater roles (first leadership position, developing a new role at work, etc.) and assume additional responsibilities. At these times, competence will typically develop before confidence develops; the physical and mental components require time to adjust to this new domain, while improving performance. The body's nervous system requires an adjustment period to get accustomed to higher levels of authority/visibility/impact. While the mind is adjusting to a new condition, it is the individual's behavior that is leading the way. What may seem like uncertainty, is typically the mind catching up with a reality that has already changed.

From Doing Work to Directing Work
The age of AI is not looking for humans to disappear - it is asking humans to evolve. The most valuable skill is no longer solely focused on execution, but on directing, knowing what is important, developing better questions, and making well-informed decisions. AI does not eliminate the need for public judgment, ethical responsibility, and human insight, it makes each of these aspects of human endeavor even more important. The reason why AI feels so unnatural is due to the fact that it is showing us a new reality: you have already developed the capabilities you possess today - your identity is still adjusting to a changed world.

References

• Clark, A., & Chalmers, D. (1998). The extended mind. Analysis, 58(1), 7–19.

• Newport, C. (2016). Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. Grand Central Publishing.

• American Psychological Association. (2023). Technology, identity, and cognitive adaptation.

• McKinsey & Company. (2023). The state of AI in organizations.