The "AI as sparring partner" framing is the most underused mental model out there. Most people are using it as a search engine with better grammar. The driver's seat line lands and I think most people aren't afraid of the machine taking the wheel, they just never knew they were supposed to be driving in the first place.
You have captured the essence of my essay. Many can see only one side of the coin and like sheeps following blindly what others are doing, without asking why or challenging the status quo. It’s not about not using AI, it’s about doing it the right way and making the most out of it. Setting the healthy boundaries and never letting the machine to occupy the drivers seat even for a moment. We are all playing long-term game with the machines
I described the compounding effect in the “Deep Work Dividend” I posted some weeks ago here if you wanna take a lot. I’m sure you already know all that, but I feel like many people prefers to choose easy and quick solutions over deliberate and slow thinking.
As you have rightly pointed out, growth requires friction.
True learning requires friction. Becoming an expert is not an accident. It is the result of prolonged periods of active engagement with what you are trying to learn - something that AI removes if not used correctly.
The "AI as sparring partner" framing is the most underused mental model out there. Most people are using it as a search engine with better grammar. The driver's seat line lands and I think most people aren't afraid of the machine taking the wheel, they just never knew they were supposed to be driving in the first place.
You have captured the essence of my essay. Many can see only one side of the coin and like sheeps following blindly what others are doing, without asking why or challenging the status quo. It’s not about not using AI, it’s about doing it the right way and making the most out of it. Setting the healthy boundaries and never letting the machine to occupy the drivers seat even for a moment. We are all playing long-term game with the machines
Long-term game is exactly the right frame. The people who let the machine take the wheel "just for now" are the ones who forget how to drive.
Every shortcut compounds and so does every deliberate choice to stay in control.
I described the compounding effect in the “Deep Work Dividend” I posted some weeks ago here if you wanna take a lot. I’m sure you already know all that, but I feel like many people prefers to choose easy and quick solutions over deliberate and slow thinking.
Will definitely check that out! And yes, easy and quick is always going to win the moment, but deliberate and slow wins the decade.
The tragedy is most people only realise which game they were playing once it's already over.
Deep work isn't sexy, it doesn't feel productive in real time but that's exactly why so few actually do it and so many just talk about it.
There are these little beautiful nuances in the way that you write your pieces, quite inspiring. Thank you
As you have rightly pointed out, growth requires friction.
True learning requires friction. Becoming an expert is not an accident. It is the result of prolonged periods of active engagement with what you are trying to learn - something that AI removes if not used correctly.