Senior professionals get more out of AI. Watch and learn, young pretenders.
AI is an enthusiastic but unreliable assistant. Senior professionals, well-versed in delegation and critical thinking, seem to make the most it.
As the Swedish PM admits to using AI in his role, McKinsey reports that “C-level executives are using AI more than others”. While AI remains more popular among younger audiences, there are clear signs that senior professionals are becoming increasingly comfortable with the technology.
From what I’ve observed, they are also better at using it. At ease with the natural-language chat interface, they prompt precisely and effectively. More critical of the AI output, they complete tasks more efficiently.
This is not as surprising as it might seem, and it holds useful lessons for their younger colleagues.
My other assistant is a human
The most obvious reason is that senior professionals are used to having assistants. As you rise through the ranks, you delegate more, issuing instructions, checking results, and providing feedback. When you manage people all day, delegating to a bot is not that big a leap.
Another reason is that AI may suit mature brains better. According to research, people are brightest in their 20s, but wisest in their 50s. This “crystallised intelligence”, built on accumulated experience, works well with a slow-paced, language-based tool like AI.
The most important reason, however, is critical thinking. As people climb the ladder, they develop an ability to sniff out bullshit. Due to its probabilistic nature, AI will always hallucinate. Approaching the output critically, aware that chunks will need editing or redoing, is essential.
Use the force, young Jedi
The Economist reports that AI is “narrowing the path” to white-collar jobs, as entry-level tasks traditionally used to train juniors are increasingly automated. Younger professionals should emulate the habits of their senior colleagues when using AI: confident delegation, concise communication and sharp, critical thinking.
One AI enthusiast sees a future where every employee is “a CEO of AI agents”. Be that as it may, current CEOs have given themselves a head start.