That's a different take than I've been considering AI to be genuinely useful. I try to not use it for deep work, infact I try to use it minimally but frequently for short checks on my own understanding.

Using your research paper reading example, I would read the research paper, but then ask an AI tool specific questions about the work, frequently in new chats. Then at the end I might ask it to implement my description of the paper. I guess it's your 'debate with me' conclusion, the only difference is I would try to have multiple short conversations.

Ironically, what you described is exactly using AI to help with deep work. You do the heavy lifting (reading), and use AI strictly for stateless verification and testing your mental model. That is the ideal synergy.