How Do Workers Develop Good Judgment in the AI Era?

The article examines how workers develop good judgment in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting a paradox where AI increases the need for judgment but simultaneously diminishes the experiential learning that traditionally cultivates it. Judgment is defined as the capacity to make wise decisions under uncertainty by evaluating quality, context, tradeoffs, consequences, and ownership of choices. Historically, judgment develops through hands-on responsibility, repetition, and learning from outcomes, but AI's automation of foundational tasks reduces these formative experiences, especially for junior employees. This shift risks concentrating judgment in a shrinking group of senior leaders and weakening organizational decision-making and succession pipelines. The article suggests organizations must redesign work and learning processes—drawing on methods like simulation and graduated responsibility—to ensure judgment continues to develop alongside AI integration.