If a recent crop of commercials touting the benefits of artificial intelligence is any indication, lots of Americans these days feel unduly burdened by the demands of everyday cognition. Apparently, it’s asking way too much to expect a human to figure out how to make a small repair, or write a note to a friend, or plan a meal to feed a child. Let alone read.

If human workers don’t have to read, write, or even think, it’s unclear what’s left for them to do.