AI-powered incident response tools are transforming site reliability engineering by automating routine alerts and repairs. These systems can inspect alerts, form hypotheses, query telemetry, and implement fixes independently. While this reduces mean time to repair for standard issues, it creates a significant skills gap.

As engineers rely more on automation, they lose the routine practice necessary to handle complex, never-before-seen incidents. This mirrors the paradox identified by human-factors researcher Lisanne Bainbridge: automation reduces operator proficiency precisely when it is needed most for abnormal situations. The article warns that average incident resolution times may decrease, but complex event handling will suffer as engineers struggle to regain control.

To combat this decline, organizations are turning to realistic incident simulations. Platforms like Rootly partner with Uptime Labs to provide engineers with "incident commander" experiences in controlled environments. These simulations force responders to investigate incomplete information, communicate clearly, and coordinate teams, effectively rehearsing the rare emergencies that automation cannot solve.

By practicing these critical skills, engineers can maintain the intuition and coordination required to manage high-severity failures, ensuring that automation enhances rather than replaces human expertise.