CEO Warns Against Overreliance on AI, Calls for Humans to "Think First"

DigitalMarketer CEO Ryan Deiss says workers who think independently will have an advantage in the AI era.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 12:33pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

DigitalMarketer CEO Ryan Deiss warns that the rise of AI could lead to a concerning "AI atrophy" where workers become overly reliant on AI and stop exercising their own critical thinking skills. Deiss advocates for a "10-80-10" approach where the first and last 10% of a task involve human thought, with AI taking over the middle 80%. He believes that maintaining this discipline to "think first" will give people and brands a structural advantage in an AI-powered world.

Why it matters

As AI becomes more ubiquitous in the workplace, there are growing concerns that overreliance on these tools could erode workers' independent thinking and problem-solving abilities. This could have long-term consequences for the job market, as employers seek out candidates who can think critically and creatively rather than simply prompt AI for answers. Deiss' perspective highlights the importance of striking a balance between leveraging AI's capabilities and preserving human cognitive skills.

The details

Deiss argues that the same technology that made modern life more sedentary could also make workers "stupider" if they rely on AI to do all their thinking. He suggests that workers who "think first and use AI second" will have an advantage in the AI era. Deiss' proposed "10-80-10" approach involves humans contributing the first and last 10% of a task, with AI handling the middle 80%. This, he believes, will prevent workers from becoming overly reliant on AI and allow them to maintain their critical thinking abilities.

  • On Monday, Deiss shared his perspective in an X post.

The players

Ryan Deiss

The founder and CEO of marketing firm DigitalMarketer and The Scalable Company.

Mehdi Paryavi

The CEO of the International Data Center Authority, who has warned that overrelying on AI may be quietly eroding workers' confidence in their job skills.

Anastasia Berg

An assistant professor of philosophy at the University of California, Irvine, who has said that overreliance on AI is most harmful for junior workers who never build the foundational knowledge required to understand what it's actually doing.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The technology that made us fat is going to make us dumb, too,”

— Ryan Deiss, CEO, DigitalMarketer (X)

“The advantage goes to people who invest the time to think and process,”

— Ryan Deiss, CEO, DigitalMarketer (X)

The takeaway

As AI becomes more prevalent in the workplace, it is crucial for workers to maintain a balance between leveraging AI's capabilities and preserving their own critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Deiss' perspective highlights the importance of proactively exercising independent thought, rather than becoming overly reliant on AI, in order to remain competitive in an increasingly AI-driven job market.