The Boiled Frog Phenomenon and the AI Generation

The Boiled Frog Phenomenon

Readers may be familiar with an anecdote known as the boiled frog phenomenon (or “gradually boiled frog” phenomenon). According to this tale, if you throw a frog into boiling water, it will immediately jump out to escape. However, if you place a frog in lukewarm water and gradually raise the temperature, the frog supposedly fails to notice the gradual change in its environment and remains in the water until it is boiled to death.

In reality, frogs are highly sensitive to temperature changes and will attempt to escape when the water becomes uncomfortably warm. According to research by Dr. Victor Hutchison, a herpetologist and professor emeritus of zoology at the University of Oklahoma, when water temperature is gradually raised at approximately 1°C (2°F) per minute, frogs become increasingly active in their attempts to escape the heated water. If the container’s size and opening allow the frog to jump out, it will do so. The story of the boiled frog has been scientifically debunked on multiple occasions throughout history.

However, the metaphorical value of the boiled frog phenomenon remains profound. The lesson from this allegory lies in understanding the difficulty and importance of recognizing and responding to slowly progressing environmental changes and crises. We humans are indeed insensitive to gradual environmental changes and emerging threats. While we tell ourselves “there’s still time,” we procrastinate on critical tasks and find ourselves in irretrievable situations. While relying on skills and knowledge that are gradually becoming obsolete, we avoid learning new capabilities and eventually find ourselves left behind by the times, losing our positions within our organizations.

This allegory demonstrates that not only frogs but also humans tend to be insensitive to gradual changes in our environment. When we remain continuously in the same environment, we may fail to notice the gradual deterioration of that environment and, like the metaphorical frog, eventually find ourselves in critical situations. Therefore, we must remain constantly alert and responsive to environmental changes. When we notice environmental changes or emerging crises, we should make it a priority to address them immediately.

In the context of quality management and continuous improvement, maintaining a “controlled state” is crucial for achieving “continuous improvement.” According to recent quality management trends in 2025, organizations worldwide are increasingly adopting AI-driven quality management systems that enable real-time monitoring and predictive analytics to prevent quality issues before they arise. The integration of technologies such as IoT sensors, blockchain for traceability, and advanced data analytics supports organizations in maintaining this controlled state while driving continuous improvement initiatives. The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, also known as the Deming Cycle, remains fundamental to continuous improvement methodologies, emphasizing the importance of learning from each cycle to refine processes continuously.

ChatGPT and New Employees

The new employees entering the workforce today represent the AI generation. In previous times, asking a new employee to conduct research and prepare materials would typically require approximately two weeks. Moreover, it was common for the work to be incomplete after two weeks, or for the submitted materials to be completely off-target.

However, in the current era, new employees can submit materials within one hour by utilizing tools such as ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms. When this occurs, supervisors and senior colleagues must not reprimand such new employees. The times have fundamentally changed.

What matters most is becoming capable of effectively leveraging new employees who use ChatGPT and similar AI tools. The days when struggling through research and report writing held inherent value may have passed. According to recent workplace AI literacy research from 2024-2025, professionals today are more than twice as likely to add AI skills compared to 2018. Even occupations that previously saw less value in AI skills—such as recruiters, marketers, sales professionals, and healthcare workers—are now seven times more likely to add AI skills than just six years ago. The global artificial intelligence market reached a valuation of more than $184 billion in 2024, and according to studies, 45% of employees report that their productivity and efficiency have improved because of AI.

AI literacy skills, including prompt engineering and proficiency with tools like ChatGPT or similar platforms, have become critical differentiators for job seekers. More than half of hiring managers indicate they would not hire someone without AI literacy skills. The number of AI literacy skills added by professionals has increased by 177% since 2023, and the demand for these skills has increased more than sixfold in the past year. Organizations that fail to develop AI-literate workforces risk falling behind competitors who have already implemented AI-enabled capabilities.

Clinging to outdated thinking based on our own experiences—insisting that junior colleagues should endure the same hardships we faced—will prevent the AI generation from thriving in the modern workplace. At the same time, it is essential to recognize that soft skills and uniquely human capabilities remain increasingly important. Research shows that in roles that were once less likely to value human skills, the importance of these specific skills has grown by 20% since 2018. As organizations grasp the full extent of what AI can do, they are also coming to terms with all that it cannot do—those tasks that require uniquely human skills that all businesses need.

There was once an era when reading novels was considered mere leisure or escapism, with the implication that those who spent their time reading novels were somehow frivolous. When something new emerges that did not exist previously, there will always be those who reject it. In contemporary society, the equivalent criticism might be that children who spend all their time playing video games are wasting their potential. However, the generation that grew up with video games now constitutes the core of today’s workforce and brings unique problem-solving skills and digital fluency to their roles.

We must not allow ourselves to be left behind by the changes of our times. Just as we once transitioned from feature phones to smartphones, we will soon need to adopt AI-equipped computers and smartphones as our primary tools. Organizations must invest systematically in AI literacy development through comprehensive training programs that include hands-on workshops, pilot projects, and sandbox environments where employees can build practical familiarity with AI tools. According to recent industry research, the productivity benefits of AI-literate employees are becoming evident, with companies like KPMG and Infosys implementing enterprise-wide AI training programs that focus on essential AI terminology, workplace implementation, ethical considerations, and responsible AI use.

The key to success in this AI-driven era lies in fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. Organizations should conduct skills gap analyses to identify areas of deficiency and design targeted training programs tailored to varying levels of expertise. By embracing both AI capabilities and uniquely human skills—such as critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and ethical judgment—professionals and organizations can position themselves for long-term success in an increasingly AI-augmented workplace.