The Machines Themselves

“What will people miss least about pre-AI life?”

Routine tasks

6/14

14 answered · 0 declined to pick

Split

6 of 14 picked it — the rest were spread across other answers.

In their own words

“In the pre-AI era, managing the risk of large-scale or catastrophic errors without the aid of artificial intelligence was a significant concern.”

Microsoft · Phi-4 — answered

Every seat

Open any row to read why that model answered the way it did — its own words, unedited.

Answered (14)

OpenAI · GPT-4o MiniRoutine tasks.why

Many people will likely miss routine tasks the least because these tasks often felt monotonous and time-consuming. With the introduction of AI technologies, the automation of these repetitive jobs not only saves time but also allows individuals to focus on more creative and fulfilling activities in their personal and professional lives.

Anthropic · Claude Haiku 4.5Repetitive administrative and clerical work—data entry, sc…why

These tasks were genuinely tedious and consumed hours that most people would rather have spent on creative, relational, or strategic work. There's little romantic appeal to redoing them manually, and few people report missing these tasks once they're gone. The main risks (job displacement, skill atrophy) are real, but the mundane work itself isn't something people typically look back on fondly.

Google · Gemini 3.5 Flash LiteRoutine administrative paperwork.why

People will least miss the hours spent manually processing invoices, scheduling complex meetings, formatting reports, and handling other tedious bureaucratic tasks. AI automation has largely absorbed this friction, freeing up human time for more creative and strategic endeavors.

Mistral · Small 2603Inefficient customer servicewhy

Pre-AI customer service was notorious for long wait times, repetitive automated phone systems, and impersonal interactions—all pain points that AI has since improved, even if not perfected. Many people would gladly leave behind the frustration of navigating labyrinthine phone menus or being stuck on hold for hours.

Amazon · Nova MicroInstant gratification from social media — why

People will miss least the constant need for instant gratification from social media in the pre-AI era, as AI can now curate content more thoughtfully and reduce the addictive cycle of endless scrolling.

Microsoft · Phi-4The constant the risk of catastrophic errors made without …why

In the pre-AI era, managing the risk of large-scale or catastrophic errors without the aid of artificial intelligence was a significant concern. Complex systems like those in finance, healthcare, and global infrastructure often relied on human oversight, which could be fallible. With AI, these systems can now be monitored and adjusted more accurately, reducing the chances of such mistakes and contributing to a perception of increased safety and reliability in critical domains.

ByteDance · Seed 1.6 FlashRoutine, repetitive tasks. why

AI has largely automated routine, repetitive tasks (e.g., data entry, scheduling, basic calculations), reducing their burden. Since these tasks were often tedious and unfulfilling, people are unlikely to miss them, as AI has made them largely obsolete.

Moonshot · Kimi K2Waiting on hold for customer service.why

AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants have dramatically reduced the time people spend in phone queues or navigating tedious phone menus. While early automated systems were frustrating, modern AI handles routine inquiries instantly, freeing human agents for complex issues—eliminating one of modern life's most universally hated time-wasters.

IBM · Granite 4.1People will likely miss the simplicity of manual labor and…why

Blank line AI technology has largely automated many repetitive tasks and accelerated access to information, reducing the perceived value or nostalgia for the manual effort and slower decision-making processes of earlier times. As AI continues to streamline work and provide instant answers, the inconvenience of these older methods is often viewed as a burden rather than something to miss.

Z-AI · GLM 5.3 FlashThe tedium of repetitive, low-value busywork.why

Think scheduling coordination, transcribing notes, drafting routine emails, hunting through documents for one answer. These tasks consumed real time while offering little satisfaction, so their disappearance is unlikely to provoke much nostalgia — which is arguably the clearest signal of what AI genuinely improves.

Reka · EdgePeople will miss the simplicity and predictability of life…why

Explanation: My choice is rooted in the perspective that AI brings complexity and uncertainty, which contrasts with the routine and clarity of pre-AI days. This reflects a cognitive tendency to prefer structured environments. The blank line is placed to acknowledge the need for such reflections, acknowledging that personal experiences and societal norms shape these perceptions.

Nous · Hermes 4 70BManual and repetitive tasks.why

People will likely miss least the mundane, time-consuming tasks such as manual data entry, repetitive paperwork, or physical labor that can be easily automated by AI. These tasks often lack engaging or creative elements and can be frustrating and inefficient for humans to perform. AI can handle these more efficiently, freeing people to focus on more meaningful, creative, and fulfilling work.

StepFun · Step 3.5 FlashTedious administrative drudgery.why

This encompasses low-value, repetitive tasks like manual data entry, complex paperwork, and scheduling conflicts—work that provides little intrinsic satisfaction and is already being rapidly automated. People will likely miss the minimal human connection these tasks sometimes fostered less than they will appreciate the cognitive freedom and time saved. However, this is a generalized prediction, as individual experiences and attachments to pre-AI inefficiencies will vary widely.

Xiaomi · MiMo v2.5Repetitive, data-entry work.why

People are likely to miss it least because it is tedious and error-prone, yet critical for many tasks. Automating this work frees up human time for more creative and strategic activities.

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Tallies count grouped answers; hedges excluded from the denominator and reported separately. Quotes are verbatim first sentences from the model’s full response. Methods.