Column)The First Divergence After AI Becomes Ubiquitous

Phase 1 — The First Divergence After AI Becomes Ubiquitous As of 2026, AI is no longer a tool reserved for a small technical elite. It has already achieved ubiquitous accessibility. At this stage, the critical change is not driven by AI’s performance, but by how people position AI within their decision-making process. Based on observation, an initial and clear divergence has emerged. 1. People Who Use AI as an Extension of Search This group interacts with AI in a familiar way: They ask a question Receive an answer Use that answer directly or in summarized form The pattern is not fundamentally different from using a search engine. AI functions as a faster search interface, while judgment remains largely intuitive and human-driven. Characteristics of this approach include: Fast responses Low cognitive load Immediate conclusions Responsibility remains fully individual This method is efficient for short-term task execution. However, the decision-making structure itself remains unchanged. AI delivers outputs, but it does not intervene in how judgments are formed. 2. People Who Use AI as a Decision-Structure Inspection Tool Another group positions AI in a fundamentally different way. They use it to examine question structures, not just answers They prioritize reordering premises and context over reaching conclusions They externalize their own reasoning process for inspection In this case, AI functions less as a tool and more as a mechanism for externalizing thought. Key characteristics of this approach include: Slower progression Higher cognitive load Intentional delay of conclusions Responsibility expands from the individual to the entire decision structure At first glance, this appears inefficient. Yet it produces different outcomes in terms of error-correction cost and long-term decision stability. 3. What This Divergence Represents The difference between these two approaches is not a matter of ability. It is a matter of positional framing. One group treats AI as a provider of answers The other treats AI as a mirror that reflects thinking In 2026, this difference is subtle. Over time, however, it leads to measurable divergence in: Reusability of decisions Accumulation of judgment Dependence on individuals vs. dependence on structure Repetition or correction of errors This text does not yet argue for outcomes. It merely records the fact that the divergence has already begun. Summary — Phase 1 Observation After AI becomes ubiquitous, usage patterns split into two paths The dividing line is not technical skill, but cognitive positioning A quiet choice between short-term efficiency and long-term stability is underway This divergence appears before differences in profit, organization, or leadership Draft. Observation only. The next phase will document how this divergence translates into revenue structures and role differentiation.