The Macro Question: AI Productivity vs. The Human Element

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the difference between what we post on LinkedIn and what actually happens in our daily work. It’s a gap that exists in every business, not just ours. The interesting work is figuring out exactly where to eliminate the tasks employees don’t want to post about. The goal isn’t just efficiency; it’s clarity. It’s about intelligently simplifying their work so they can focus on the things that actually matter.

This brings us to a broader question that keeps me up at night, not out of fear, but out of curiosity: Have we figured out how to use AI in the workplace at a macro scale yet?

The short answer is no. Not really.

We are still in the phase where most people are poking at the technology. They are testing it to understand what it can do, and just as importantly, what it can’t do. I believe the tech will continue to improve rapidly—it already has, notably in the short time since I started really digging into this. But the real story isn’t just about the tools getting better. It’s about finding a balance.

As these tools become easier for the average person to use, the benefits will start to filter in. But we need to be honest about what that looks like. AI isn’t necessarily making us smarter. It is making us more productive. And that is a crucial distinction.

I am amazed by the amount of progress I’ve made on topics and projects that would have taken me significantly longer without these aids. The time saved is real. But what do we do with that saved time? That is the macro-scale question for business owners. Do we just do more of the same? Or do we use that space to simplify the work itself?

To get there, we have to look at how we actually use these tools. I’ve started using NotebookLM for our business. It’s like a private AI for whatever information you provide on a specific topic. You plug in your documents, emails, proposals, and presentations, and it limits itself to answers based on your facts. It doesn’t hallucinate outside your context. It’s a good, useful tool.

We’ve also started one for our home. We’ve uploaded purchase receipts, maintenance contracts, and HOA rules. Now, when I have a question about our house, I don’t have to dig through folders. I ask the AI, and it answers based on our specific data.

This is the practical application of macro-scale productivity. It’s not about replacing the worker. It’s about giving the worker a private, factual assistant that handles the noise.

However, we must balance this against the broader impact. This is not a zero-sum game. AI consumes power and contributes to pollution, which is obviously a negative. But the areas where it can increase productivity and make new discoveries have to be weighed against that impact. We can’t ignore the cost of doing business in the age of AI.

So, where does this leave us?

We are in a transition period. The tools are getting easier. The productivity gains are real. But we haven’t yet figured out the macro-scale integration that truly transforms how work gets done. We are still figuring out the “how.”

For business owners, the takeaway is simple:

• Focus on productivity, not intelligence. AI handles the volume; you handle the value.
• Create private contexts. Use tools that limit themselves to your own data. This keeps your information secure and your answers accurate.
• Simplify, don’t just automate. Ask yourself what tasks your employees don’t want to do. Use AI to clear that away so they can focus on the work they would actually want to post about.
• Stay balanced. Acknowledge the environmental and operational costs. Don’t get swept up in the hype.

We didn’t stop there. We are still testing, still learning, and still refining. But the direction is clear. The future of work isn’t about AI replacing humans. It’s about humans using AI to do less of the tedious stuff and more of the meaningful stuff.

If you’re wondering where to start, look at your team’s daily grind. What can be simplified? What can be automated? And what can be left for the human touch? That’s where the real value lies.

I’ve been saying this for a while. This piece was pulled together by AI from 5 of my social media posts (05/2025 - 05/2026) and polished for Cairoglyphics.ai.