AI adoption: Forward deployed engineers may have an understanding but what about judgement?
The article contends that while combining competencies fosters understanding in enterprise AI, it often fails to cultivate sound judgment. Enterprises struggle with crucial decisions regarding AI's authority and its collective impact on risk. The author argues that judgment is a "subtractive" process—eliminating weak assumptions—a scarce skill as AI generates numerous plausible answers. Success in enterprise AI hinges less on building systems and more on discerning which systems to build and actively discarding flawed assumptions early. Rewarding skeptics who challenge assumptions is paramount for effective AI integration and competitive advantage. This requires a shift from additive understanding to subtractive judgment.
LiveMint · Siddharth Pai · Aug 17, 2026 at 10:30 AM