Author:
-
Better Technology, Worse Motivation: GenAI and the Mediocrity Trap
Resources › Working Papers Working Paper This version: July 2025 Abstract While generative AI (GenAI) promises productive efficiency, it can paradoxically lead to lower-quality work. We conducted an experiment with professional illustrators and found that AI assistance flattens the quality curve—it accelerates initial gains but sharply diminishes the returns on sustained effort. Faced with this,…