The Mindtools L&D Podcast

434 — Cyborgs, centaurs and the role of choice infrastructure


Listen Later

It’s ‘Bring Your Paper to Work’ day at Mindtools Towers, as Ross G, Ross D and Dr Anna each take turns to share an academic study that they think has key insights for L&D professionals.

We discuss:

  • The impact of AI on critical thinking, as investigated in:
    • Lee, H. P. H., Sarkar, A., Tankelevitch, L., Drosos, I., Rintel, S., Banks, R., & Wilson, N. (2025). The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers.
  • How consultants who use AI act either as ‘cyborgs’ or ‘centaurs’ in:
    • Dell'Acqua, F., McFowland III, E., Mollick, E. R., Lifshitz-Assaf, H., Kellogg, K., Rajendran, S., ... & Lakhani, K. R. (2023). Navigating the jagged technological frontier: Field experimental evidence of the effects of AI on knowledge worker productivity and quality. Harvard Business School Technology & Operations Mgt. Unit Working Paper, (24-013).
  • Why we should go beyond 'choice architecture' to look at 'choice infrastructure' in:
    • Schmidt, R. (2024). A model for choice infrastructure: Looking beyond choice architecture in Behavioral Public Policy. Behavioural Public Policy8(3), 415-440.

During the discussion, Anna referenced our previous podcast with Erica Werneman Root, What does ‘AI literacy’ look like in organizations?

She also mentioned a blog from Ralph Losey on centaurs and cyborgs.

And we discussed Ross G's newsletter on augmentation vs upskilling.

In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross D discussed Chesteron's fence.

Anna discussed whether women can run faster than men over ultralong distances, via More or Less.

As a brief aside, apologies for the slightly worse audio on Ross G's track this episode. After 430+ episodes, he's still making mistakes.

For more from us, visit mindtools.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.   Or email [email protected].

Connect with our speakers    

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn: 

  • Ross Dickie 

  • Anna Barnett 

  • Ross Garner

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Mindtools L&D PodcastBy Mind Tools Ltd

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

20 ratings


More shows like The Mindtools L&D Podcast

View all
Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4

Woman's Hour

409 Listeners

HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

HBR IdeaCast

237 Listeners

CIPD by CIPD

CIPD

19 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,243 Listeners

How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

How to Be Awesome at Your Job

1,043 Listeners

Squiggly Careers by The Squiggly Career

Squiggly Careers

63 Listeners

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

6,344 Listeners

Learning Uncut by Michelle Ockers

Learning Uncut

5 Listeners

Nudge by Phill Agnew

Nudge

173 Listeners

The Learning & Development Podcast by David James

The Learning & Development Podcast

46 Listeners

A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

A Bit of Optimism

2,166 Listeners

ZOE Science & Nutrition by ZOE

ZOE Science & Nutrition

1,943 Listeners

HBR On Strategy by Harvard Business Review

HBR On Strategy

79 Listeners

HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

HBR On Leadership

131 Listeners

Begin Again with Davina McCall by Begin Again

Begin Again with Davina McCall

500 Listeners