AI is reshaping what it means to be skilled. The impact depends on how you interact with it.
Flattening Skill
AI can reduce the need for traditional proficiency:
- Coding: Tools like Copilot or Claude can generate working code without deep syntax knowledge.
- Design: AI can create layouts, visuals, or prototypes without mastering tools like Figma or Illustrator.
- Writing: Coherent drafts appear even without strong writing skill.
Effect: Surface competence rises. Deep, intuitive skill may stagnate if you rely too heavily on AI. You can “look skilled” without internalizing the craft.
Amplifying Taste
Taste is about judgment and sensibility, not mechanics:
- AI produces many options; human choice decides quality.
- Example: You generate multiple UIs; the one you select and refine reflects your taste.
- In coding, AI scaffolds modules, but architecture, trade-offs, and priorities remain human decisions.
Effect: AI multiplies your impact by letting you focus on curation, strategy, and judgment rather than execution.
The Tradeoff
- Flattening skill = doing without learning.
- Amplifying taste = choosing with insight.
The difference comes down to active engagement: Are you guiding the AI, or passively accepting outputs?
Key Insight
Obsidian + AI agents work best as taste amplifiers. They let you generate, explore, and iterate quickly while preserving human judgment. They flatten skill only if you hand over control and stop thinking.