The Tragedy of the Cognitive Commons

Nolan Lovett's paper introduces the "Cognitive Commons" framework to explain how AI adoption, while rational for individual organizations, can deplete the shared expertise pool that professions need to sustain themselves over time. The research distinguishes between deep domain expertise gained through practice and the ability to oversee AI systems, arguing that organizations adopting AI may undermine the very expertise required to effectively manage it. Early evidence from labor markets and clinical sectors suggests potential disruption to expertise-development pathways, with vulnerability varying across professions based on five key factors, requiring governance solutions across organizational, professional, and policy levels.