Jeff Raikes: The talent debt I warned about is now showing up in the data

Jeff Raikes warns that companies relying on AI for entry-level tasks risk 'talent debt' as critical thinking skills atrophy. Microsoft's 2026 Work Trend Index reveals only 16% of workers can effectively judge AI outputs, while Gartner predicts half of global organizations will require 'AI-free' skills assessments by 2026. A RAND study shows students using AI for homework fear it harms independent thinking, highlighting a growing disconnect between AI efficiency and human judgment.