AI tools are helping workers complete tasks faster, but a growing concern among experts is that the technology may be eroding essential job skills. Anastasia Berg, an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of California, Irvine, warns that overreliance on AI is leading to a silent decline in core competencies across industries. Speaking on “The Philosopher” podcast, Berg said that while there is strong evidence of increased speed and engagement when using AI, the long-term cost is a loss of depth, critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to retain and apply knowledge. “We talk a lot about what it takes to acquire a skill,” she said, “but skills also require maintenance. Without regular use and practice, they atrophy.” Although Berg did not reference specific studies, research from institutions like Oxford University Press, Springer, and MDPI supports the idea that while AI can accelerate learning, it often does so at the expense of deep understanding and independent problem-solving. Berg highlights that junior employees are particularly at risk. In fields ranging from the humanities to computer science, early-career professionals are increasingly using AI to write, code, and debug without ever developing the foundational knowledge needed to do so independently. “It’s one thing for a senior coder to use AI as a tool,” she said. “But the junior people are useless because they cannot help themselves from using it.” This dependency means they never learn how to think through problems, verify results, or understand the logic behind the outputs they receive. The issue extends well beyond the workplace. Berg notes that adults are turning to AI for emotional support, decision-making, and even social interaction. A 2025 analysis of 1.58 million ChatGPT conversations by researchers from OpenAI, Duke University, and Harvard found that 73% of messages from adult users were non-work-related, though the study did not detail the specific types of non-work use. This growing reliance, she argues, undermines the cognitive skills necessary for both professional success and everyday life. “The majority — if not something close to — of AI use among adults isn't work-related,” she said, pointing to “constant advice,” “a lot of weird sociability,” and “emotional task management.” Berg’s core concern is that AI doesn’t just automate tasks — it automates the very processes through which people develop competence. When friction is removed from learning and problem-solving, so too is the opportunity to grow. Over time, workers may appear more productive on the surface but become increasingly incapable of functioning without AI assistance. If companies continue to integrate AI into every aspect of work under the promise of efficiency, Berg warns, they may end up with a workforce that is highly dependent, less resilient, and ultimately less capable. In her view, the real danger isn’t that AI will replace jobs — it’s that it may quietly dismantle the very skills that make work meaningful and sustainable.