Gym tasks vs. work tasks.This not a brand-new way of thinking about what we should and shouldn’t offload to AI, but I hadn’t seen it before. From Bruce Schneier:The writing assignments I give my students are gym tasks, not work tasks. I ask them to write policy memos not because the world needs more policy memos. I assign them because the very act of writing, which includes thinking and outlining and drafting and editing, making and criticizing and revising arguments, will help develop the critical thinking skills they will need in their future careers. And without this constant mental exercise, those skills will atrophy. Employers are already noticing.
Gym tasks vs. work tasks.
This not a brand-new way of thinking about what we should and shouldn’t offload to AI, but I hadn’t seen it before. From Bruce Schneier: > The writing assignments I give my students are gym tasks, not work tasks. I ask them to write policy memos not because the world needs more policy memos. I assign them because the very act of writing, which includes thinking and outlining and drafting and editing, making and criticizing and revising arguments, will help develop the critical thinking skills they will need in their future careers. And without this constant mental exercise, those skills will atrophy. Employers are already noticing. [Link: Should You Use AI for a Task? Here’s a Simple Way to Decide - Schneier on Security | https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2026/07/should-you-use-ai-for-a-task-heres-a-simple-way-to-decide.html | Schneier on Security]
TL;DRAI
Bruce Schneier distinguishes gym tasks (skill-building exercises like policy writing) from work-output tasks. Offloading gym tasks to AI risks skill atrophy in critical thinking, problem-solving, and judgment—core competencies employers already notice teams lack.
108 words~1 min read
