Avoiding Cognitive Surrender in AI-Driven Ergonomics: A 27-Year Brazilian Perspective for the Global Market - From Reactive to Predictive

AbstractThis article explores the concept of Cognitive Surrender in AI-Driven Ergonomics — the risk that as AI becomes more competent in safety, human judgment is outsourced. Drawing on 27 years of EHS experience in Brazil (SP, GO, RJ, MS) managing Safety, Fire Protection and Road Safety in sugar-ethanol plants, soybean processing and construction, and now building EkoSeg EHS US LLC in Salt Lake City, UT, the author argues for AI for Augmentation, not Automation. The study bridges Brazil's NR-17 Ergonomic Work Analysis (AET) and OSHA's MSD prevention, analyzing the emergence of computer vision solutions like Kinebot (Curitiba), validated by Marfrig, P&G, Electrolux, with R$3M investment in Feb 2026 for global expansion. Kinebot delivers 5x faster and 80% cheaper analysis via phone video. The author presents lessons from the 62nd NISO Conference, Killarney, Ireland (2026): dashboards (Power BI integrating Safety Observations, NC, OFI, Near Miss, Training Expiry) don't save lives alone; conversations do. A framework is proposed: (a) Keep the Worker in the Loop — every AI high-risk flag (RULA 7) must trigger a Gemba walk, (b) Use Leading Indicators — % stations analyzed by AI, training validity, (c) Bridge NR-17 and OSHA. Author: Jailton da Silva, EHS Manager, 27 Years in HSE, Founder EkoSeg EHS US LLC & EkoSeg Segurança e Meio Ambiente, Brazil to Utah. Keywords: Cognitive Surrender, AI-Driven Ergonomics, NR-17, OSHA, RULA, REBA, Kinebot, EHS, Power BI, EkoSeg