Productivity Is Just a Symptom

We've built a dangerous illusion — that tools make people more skilled. But what tools really do is amplify what's already there:

• The skilled become more effective.
• The unskilled become more dependent.
• And the divide keeps getting wider.

The Debate Is Misguided — It's Not Just About Output

There's a debate happening in workplaces, think tanks, and boardrooms:

Some say the problem is output. That people just aren't working as hard. That we need better tools, better motivation, or better habits. But the real issue runs deeper.

We're facing a breakdown in capability.

A skills gap that's widening across industries and generations — and we're not moving fast enough to close it.

Three Generations. One Divide.

We're not all starting from the same place. What we're seeing in the workforce today is a cultural divide between three generations:

• The Builders — The hands-on generation who learned by doing. They created the very systems and machines we use today. They didn't consume technology — they built it.
• The Comfortable — Raised in a world of convenience and digital shortcuts. Many are smart, eager, and adaptable — but never given the chance to build deep, practical skill.
• The Unformed — Entering the workforce now, surrounded by AI, automation, and distractions. They've got potential, but few pathways to mastery.

It's not just about age — it's about exposure. If no one teaches you how to weld, wire, calibrate, or think through complex systems, you won't magically know how. We've confused accessibility with ability.

COVID Made It Worse — But It Didn't Start There

COVID didn't create the skills gap — but it poured fuel on it.

• Remote work blurred the line between participation and contribution.
• Motivation dipped while screen time surged.
• And for many, technical confidence collapsed — not because they didn't care, but because they were isolated from learning environments.

It reinforced the illusion that you can succeed without engaging deeply. That tools will "do it for you."

The Fix Is Not More Software — It's Standards

If we want a capable workforce, we have to build it — not just automate around it.

That means:

• Raising standards, not lowering requirements
• Teaching with real-world tools, not just theory
• Rebuilding apprenticeship and mentorship pipelines

Because at the end of the day, AI can't fix bad judgment.

Shoutout: ACE (America's Cutting Edge)

One program that's doing it right is ACE — America's Cutting Edge, led by Dr. Tony Schmitz and team.

And.... for those who read this far, hats off to you!

Why We Built Multiaxis Intelligence

We didn't build Multiaxis Intelligence to look impressive on a brochure. We built it because we've lived the frustration — watching tribal knowledge disappear, waiting on help that never comes, and watching people waste hours hunting for something they solved last year.

We built it for:

• The machinist who already knows what to do — but wants faster access to the setup.
• The engineer who needs results, not rabbit holes.
• The manager who's tired of bottlenecks built on missing information.

The Bottom Line