Consciousness has always been exhausting, and AI answers that exhaustion before thoughtful resolution.

People understand the cognitive tradeoff that comes with AI use, and reach for relief anyway.

AI's appeal lies in addressing human desire for ease, not just enhancing productivity.

We have always moved toward whatever makes consciousness easier to carry. I'll suggest that this instinct predates algorithms and screens and perhaps even writing itself. It's not a modern weakness or a failure of will. It may be the most consistent thing about us.

For about two years, I've assumed the AI problem was primarily one of deception. That people were being led somewhere they wouldn't willingly go if they understood the true cost. Today, I'm starting to wonder if that's true.

So, I've started thinking about this as a sort of existential ergonomics. It's basically the idea that technology, increasingly optimized, isn't merely there to reduce physical or cognitive effort, but to reduce the strain of being a self. Yes, it's a rather pedantic expression, but these two words are important because they reframe the question. We've spent a good deal of energy debating whether AI is safe or accurate. Those are real questions, but sharing a border with these is something older and less examined. My question is whether AI is appealing precisely because it responds to a desire that has nothing to do with productivity and everything to do with the relief of the self. Take a deep breath, and let's push on this a bit.

The Weight of Being Fully Human

Being........

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