2026-07-30 18:25 UTCOriginal source1 min readUpdated: 2026-10-02 02:36 UTC

Quoting Bruce Schneier

Summary

Bruce Schneier argues that writing assignments are 'gym tasks' rather than 'work tasks', designed to build critical thinking skills rather than produce documents. Employers are already noticing the decline in these skills.

SourceSimon Willison's Weblog

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A quote from Bruce Schneier

Simon Willison’s Weblog

30th July 2026

The writing assignments I give my students are gym tasks, not work tasks. I ask them to write policy memos not because the world needs more policy memos. I assign them because the very act of writing, which includes thinking and outlining and drafting and editing, making and criticizing and revising arguments, will help develop the critical thinking skills they will need in their future careers. And without this constant mental exercise, those skills will atrophy. Employers are already noticing.

— Bruce Schneier, Should You Use AI for a Task? Here’s a Simple Way to Decide

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Key points

Bruce Schneier compares writing assignments to gym tasks, emphasizing the process over the product.
The act of writing develops critical thinking through thinking, outlining, drafting, editing, making and criticizing arguments.
Without this mental exercise, critical thinking skills atrophy.
Employers are already noticing a decline in graduates' critical thinking abilities.

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