A business writer argues that AI's value lies in executing what humans tell it to do, not in deciding what matters — making your ability to express your own goals and values increasingly important.

What happened: Troy Wolters published a blog post asserting that AI cannot desire or want outcomes, but can only plan and execute tasks that humans specify. He distinguishes between AI's technical capability and its inability to generate its own goals, motivations, or values.

Why it matters: As AI becomes more capable at execution, what differentiates human work is the ability to know what you want and why — what Wolters calls taste and values. If you don't communicate your desires clearly to AI, it will not invent them for you, the way a human with their own goals might. This means workers and leaders who can articulate their vision and values may become more valuable, not less, even as AI improves.

What to watch: Wolters emphasizes that cultivating and expressing your values in writing — being able to communicate criticism and preference clearly — is a practical skill worth developing now. The implication is that clarity in stating what you want from AI will be a differentiator as the tool becomes more widespread.