Doorman fallacy: Difference between revisions
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The doorman fallacy | The '''doorman fallacy''' is a [[Category mistake|category error]] in which a complex human role is reduced to a function, leading to the assumption that it can be replaced with a cost-effective automated substitute without loss of value, with decision-makers failing to understand the indirect, intangible, non-visible value they provide.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lipnickas |first1=Gediminas |date=3 November 2025 |title=The ‘doorman fallacy’: why careless adoption of AI backfires so easily |url=https://theconversation.com/the-doorman-fallacy-why-careless-adoption-of-ai-backfires-so-easily-268380 |access-date=20 June 2026 |work=The Conversation}}</ref> | ||
The concept is closely related to ideas in [[behavioral economics]] and [[Signalling (economics)|signaling theory]], particularly the distinction between observable tasks and latent value creation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-21 |title=The Doorman. The Magic Starts Here. Charles Leon |url=https://www.charlesleon.uk/blog/the-doorman-where-the-magic-starts |access-date=2026-07-04 |website=Charles Leon |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
== Origin == | == Origin == | ||
The term "doorman fallacy" was coined by [[Rory Sutherland (advertising executive)|Rory Sutherland]] in his 2019 book ''Alchemy''. The term "[[Doorman (profession)|doorman]]" refers to | The term "doorman fallacy" was coined and popularized by [[Rory Sutherland (advertising executive)|Rory Sutherland]] in his 2019 book ''Alchemy:'' ''The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don’t Make Sense.<ref name="alchemy">{{Cite book |last=Sutherland |first=Rory |title=Alchemy : the surprising power of ideas that don't make sense |date=2019 |isbn=978-0-7535-5137-0 |location=London |oclc=1091689287}}</ref>'' | ||
The term "[[Doorman (profession)|doorman]]" refers to the role of a hotel doorman, which is mistakenly assumed to be solely for opening doors. The hotel replaces the doorman with an automated door system as a cost-saving measure. However, they fail to realize the indirect functions such as the following: | |||
* Guest recognition and assistance | |||
* Providing security and surveillance | |||
* Status signaling and brand perception | |||
Sutherland argues that such roles often create less visible value that exceeds their direct cost, meaning removal can reduce long-term profitability despite lowering operational expenditure.<ref name="alchemy" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rory Sutherland's doorman fallacy |url=https://www.mfpwealthmanagement.co.uk/blog/doorman-fallacy-rory-sutherland |access-date=2026-06-24 |website=MFP Wealth Management |language=en-GB}}</ref> | |||
== Use in AI == | == Use in AI == | ||
Recent discussions have extended the concept of the doorman fallacy to generative AI's replacement of white-collar and customer service roles.<ref name=conversation /> | |||
In 2025, the [[Commonwealth Bank|Commonwealth Bank of Australia]] laid 45 customer service staff off, replacing them with an automated AI voice bot. The bank reversed its decision amid pressure from a workers' union, admitting it "did not adequately consider all relevant business considerations and this error meant the roles were not redundant".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Subin |first=Samantha |date=2025-10-22 |title=AI is already taking white-collar jobs. Economists warn there's 'much more in the tank' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/22/ai-taking-white-collar-jobs-economists-warn-much-more-in-the-tank.html |access-date=2026-06-24 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref><ref name=conversation>{{cite web|first1=Gediminas|last1=Lipnickas|accessdate=2026-09-25|title=The ‘doorman fallacy’: why careless adoption of AI backfires so easily|url=https://theconversation.com/the-doorman-fallacy-why-careless-adoption-of-ai-backfires-so-easily-268380|date=3 November 2025|website=The Conversation}}</ref> [[Robert M. Wachter]], Chair in Hospital Medicine at the [[University of California, San Francisco]], described the idea that AI could replace doctors an example of the fallacy.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Frank|last1=Landymore|accessdate=2026-09-25|title=American Medical Association Fires Back Against Paper Finding AI Is Now Outperforming Doctors|url=https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/american-medical-association-fires-back-ai-doctors|date=4 September 2026}}</ref> | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Latest revision as of 18:43, 29 September 2026
The doorman fallacy is a category error in which a complex human role is reduced to a function, leading to the assumption that it can be replaced with a cost-effective automated substitute without loss of value, with decision-makers failing to understand the indirect, intangible, non-visible value they provide.[1]
The concept is closely related to ideas in behavioral economics and signaling theory, particularly the distinction between observable tasks and latent value creation.[2]
Origin
The term "doorman fallacy" was coined and popularized by Rory Sutherland in his 2019 book Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don’t Make Sense.[3]
The term "doorman" refers to the role of a hotel doorman, which is mistakenly assumed to be solely for opening doors. The hotel replaces the doorman with an automated door system as a cost-saving measure. However, they fail to realize the indirect functions such as the following:
- Guest recognition and assistance
- Providing security and surveillance
- Status signaling and brand perception
Sutherland argues that such roles often create less visible value that exceeds their direct cost, meaning removal can reduce long-term profitability despite lowering operational expenditure.[3][4]
Use in AI
Recent discussions have extended the concept of the doorman fallacy to generative AI's replacement of white-collar and customer service roles.[5]
In 2025, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia laid 45 customer service staff off, replacing them with an automated AI voice bot. The bank reversed its decision amid pressure from a workers' union, admitting it "did not adequately consider all relevant business considerations and this error meant the roles were not redundant".[6][5] Robert M. Wachter, Chair in Hospital Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, described the idea that AI could replace doctors an example of the fallacy.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ Lipnickas, Gediminas (3 November 2025). "The ‘doorman fallacy’: why careless adoption of AI backfires so easily". The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-doorman-fallacy-why-careless-adoption-of-ai-backfires-so-easily-268380.
- ↑ "The Doorman. The Magic Starts Here. Charles Leon" (in en-US). 2019-07-21. https://www.charlesleon.uk/blog/the-doorman-where-the-magic-starts.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sutherland, Rory (2019). Alchemy : the surprising power of ideas that don't make sense. London. ISBN 978-0-7535-5137-0. OCLC 1091689287.
- ↑ "Rory Sutherland's doorman fallacy" (in en-GB). https://www.mfpwealthmanagement.co.uk/blog/doorman-fallacy-rory-sutherland.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lipnickas, Gediminas (3 November 2025). "The ‘doorman fallacy’: why careless adoption of AI backfires so easily". https://theconversation.com/the-doorman-fallacy-why-careless-adoption-of-ai-backfires-so-easily-268380. Retrieved on 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Subin, Samantha (2025-10-22). "AI is already taking white-collar jobs. Economists warn there's 'much more in the tank'" (in en). https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/22/ai-taking-white-collar-jobs-economists-warn-much-more-in-the-tank.html.
- ↑ Landymore, Frank (4 September 2026). "American Medical Association Fires Back Against Paper Finding AI Is Now Outperforming Doctors". https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/american-medical-association-fires-back-ai-doctors. Retrieved on 2026-09-25.