The next monthly discussion meetup is next Saturday, June 6 @ 2 PM (see below for location etc.). We’ll be discussing the following question: What kinds of cognitive effort are productive struggle, and what kinds are just waste that AI should remove?.

We suggest some readings below that offer background and a few perspectives. As usual, you are welcome to come regardless of how much of the reading you do ahead of time.

Please feel free to come even if you’re worried it will be awkward, you won’t fit in, or you aren’t the “typical person who comes to a Rationality meetup.” We are welcoming (albeit occasionally argumentative)!

READINGS/MEDIA

• The first reading in Commoncog, “The Tacit Knowledge Series,”: “Why Tacit Knowledge is More Important Than Deliberate Practice”
  • https://commoncog.com/tacit-knowledge-is-a-real-thing/
• A Thoughtful Defense of AI Writing
  • https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/BG32yBoHx8jveqRmf/a-thoughtful-defense-of-ai-writing
• And Yet, Defend your Thoughts from AI Writing
  • https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ksCwps6YjsMFBkEFQ/and-yet-defend-your-thoughts-from-ai-writing
• AI deskilling is a structural problem
  • https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00146-025-02686-z
  • 11 pages (without references)
• The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers
  • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/publication/the-impact-of-generative-ai-on-critical-thinking-self-reported-reductions-in-cognitive-effort-and-confidence-effects-from-a-survey-of-knowledge-workers/
  • 16 pages (without references)

DATE & LOCATION

Date: Saturday, 6/6 @ 2–4:30pm (roughly)
Location: South Loop Strength & Conditioning – upstairs in the mezzanine
645 S Clark
Chicago IL 60605
Note: Todd owns this gym so that’s why there’s a Rationality meetup at a gym 🙂