How to Spot Them
Signature behaviours:
Last to adopt – Only touches AI when there’s no workaround.
Uses with discomfort – Shows visible frustration or distrust.
Avoids AI tasks – Delegates or delays anything AI-related.
Rarely explores – Doesn’t try new tools or features unless forced.
Downplays AI’s value – Often says, “It’s quicker to do it myself.”
What this means for you:
- They create drag on adoption, especially in teams that look to others for cues.
- Their avoidance can influence peers to hold back too.
- But if you push too hard, they’ll shut down completely.
- With the right approach, they become low-key consistent users—on their own terms.
The Challenges They Create
⚠️ Passive resistance – Doesn’t push back directly but avoids using AI at every turn.
⚠️ Low confidence – Assumes AI is too complex, risky, or irrelevant.
⚠️ Skill gap grows – Falls behind, creating more friction and dependency later.
⚠️ Cultural drag – Signals to others that AI isn’t necessary or worth it.
What to do
Lower the barrier
- Introduce AI through low-stakes tasks they already do.
- Use tools that require no prompts, settings, or steep learning.
- Offer “click and see” moments to build familiarity without pressure.
Show what’s in it for them
- Tie AI use to their personal pain points. Think time, workload, admin.
- Share simple before/after comparisons to highlight efficiency gains.
- Frame it as “help, not change.”
Build routine, not reliance
- Set small weekly AI habits. “Try this feature once this week.”
- Pair with peers who can show rather than tell.
- Celebrate consistent use over advanced use, it’s about momentum, not mastery.
What Success Looks Like
✔️ They use AI with confidence in specific, routine tasks.
✔️ They ask for help or training when needed, instead of avoiding.
✔️ They become open to new tools, even if not early adopters.
✔️ They model steady, realistic adoption for others like them.
