CEOs read fewer books because of AI, and it worries them

The article's central concern is that AI tools, which are increasingly automating tasks like summarization, are reshaping how leaders consume information. CEOs are noticing a trade-off: convenience comes at the cost of depth and originality. This is not just about reading habits but about the quality of thought and leadership decisions, as one CEO implies that nuanced arguments are lost in AI-generated summaries.

David Booth's example—writing a book that only he could tell—underscores the value of human experience and perspective, which AI cannot replicate. Andy Hunter's approach at Bookshop.org, using AI for coding but not for recommendations, illustrates a practical line: leverage AI for efficiency, but preserve human judgment for creative and relationship-based tasks. The rise of AI-written content, already surpassing human output, and the proliferation of AI-generated books designed to exploit search trends highlight the need for vigilance and curation.

The article suggests that AI lowers the bar for content creation, raising the baseline to a 'B+', but the real challenge is to avoid becoming ordinary. As one expert asks, whether AI is making you 'a little bit more ordinary' is the question leaders must confront. The response from some is to intentionally slow down—read more, think deeper—to maintain a competitive edge in a world where everyone can produce coherent content. This reflects a growing awareness that while AI can handle the mundane, the unique human ability to synthesize, question, and create remains irreplaceable.