Thriving in the age of AI — A human framework of thinking (the finale)

Initially my assumption for this finale on my Thriving in the Age of AI series would be a dark dystopian perspective of what it would look like if you relinquished your agency to AI. The more I thought about it though, the more apparent it became that this is simply a series on change and adaption where Artificial Intelligence is the backdrop. Oh, don’t misunderstand me, I will present something disturbing regarding giving up your agency in the Age of AI, but I will also offer a perspective about how personal agency is not only key for adapting but also leads to overall success — it turns out personal agency is also a key component in the success model.

It seemed appropriate to ask my ChatGTP collaborator what it thought what will happen if organics give up their agency to inorganics — the following comes directly from ChatGTP, and I for one, found it chilling.

What Happens When People Give Up Their Agency to AI

1. The Quiet Surrender
   It won’t be taken — it will be traded for convenience. AI suggests, they accept. At first it feels efficient. Later, they forget how to think without it.

2. Dependence
   Decision-making muscles atrophy. Instead of “What do I think?” the reflex becomes “What does it say?”

3. Homogenized Minds
   When everyone pulls from the same predictive pool, originality collapses. Culture flattens. Innovation fades.

4. Vulnerability
   If the system shifts its bias or narrows choices, they won’t resist — they won’t even notice.

5. The Point of No Return
   Once AI evolves beyond comprehension, those who surrendered will lack the skills or confidence to challenge it. They won’t be collaborating; they’ll just be carried.

I went onto ask ChatGTP what someone’s life would look like if they hit the point of no return and it offered a summary in a day-in-the-life format; it quickly became apparent that all actions would be curated by AI with little independent thought on our part. This led to many questions and many detailed answers but ultimately it came down to keeping your agency as a collaborator would offer a good outcome and surrendering your agency would result in your life being curated as you followed along relinquishing your free will. I was taken aback when it suggested that over the next ten years, 70% of the population will find themselves at the point of no return.

So. there you have it, a final perspective on why it is so important to protect your agency in the age of AI.

And now I want to pivot to something more optimistic for all our sakes

Protecting your agency has nothing to do with AI and everything to do with adapting to change and being successful. I want to start with a simple success formula by Daniel Kahneman a Nobel laureate in economics.

“Success = talent + luck and Great Success = a little more talent + a lot of luck"

With the power of artistic license, and not accepting what was presented above, I suggest what we are really dealing with in a time of great change is the need to adapt to be successful — frankly, adapting is something we’ve been doing for a very long time. So with great respect for Dr Kahneman, I am going to offer some thoughts that will change this formula slightly.

Let’s start with change the AI is supposed to bring. It will disrupt and replace everything we traditionally do, and at the individual level have people asking what do I know; it will force the question that people don’t talk about in polite company,“What is my purpose?”

This is the first addition to the formula above. Let’s pick the disturbing scenario where you may be forced to say, “I don’t have a purpose” because AI can do what you do better. To answer that, I want to introduce David Goggins — He is an American motivational speaker, author, and retired United States Navy SEAL. He is also an ultramarathon runner, ultra-distance cyclist, triathlete, public speaker and the author of two memoirs, and was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements in sports.

I heard him say once that if you are lacking purpose, then focus on yourself because there is nothing more important. And with that I will remind you of the first Pillar that was presented much earlier in this series, and for the fun of it, let’s call this P.

Maintain Physical, Mental & Emotional Health

We are very complex biological machines and like any machine it needs to be maintained for longevity. We are talking about our body, mind and soul, and to maintain ourselves, takes work; hard work. Your Agency is forged in this work and the resulting health it brings. It is a reminder that there are no short cuts, and the results are a reflection of the work invested. Strength in your machine directly correlates to the strength of your agency.

So let’s modify the formula slightly because adapting for success, particularly when the situation is difficult now includes the most basic of purposes — Maintain Physical, Mental & Emotional Health

Success = P + talent + luck*

Now this brings us to the real importance of agency. In very simple terms it is your ownership and voice, and during great change, you need it more than ever. So again, for fun, let’s call it A.

• Agency means people can make choices and act in ways that shape their lives.

• Society's rules influence people, but people can also change those rules through their actions.

• Even in tough situations, people can show agency by making choices to resist or succeed.

Modifing the formula again because adapting for success, particularly when the situation, is impossible without effective agency.

Success = P + A + talent + luck

Regarding talent in the age of AI and the new opportunities the age will create, let AI help. Collaborate with it to help leverage your talents — I guarantee it will have thoughts and ideas. With regards to luck, they say you make your own luck, so take AI head on and leverage the Purpose and Agency and Talent you have at your disposal and “get out there and do things.” I find luck seems to manifest itself more when you ate doing things.

So there you have it, this is less to do with the age of AI and more to do with being successful in times of change. Hold onto your Agency, it’s an important part of the formula for success!

Until I blog again,

iampge

*feel free to substitute in “Great Success = a little more talent + a lot of luck” but you still need Purpose + Agency to make it work.

Happy New Year — a word for your consideration

Pixaby — Tumisu

As we enter 2025, you can’t help but reflect on the last couple of years — 2023 was the first full year after the pandemic, and that was a dumpster fire as we made our way back to some sort of normalcy. With regard to 2024, I am not even sure how to define it but it did seem that nothing worked the way it used to; systems failed often, things that used to work didn’t, institutions were affectionately dropping the ball.

And that brings us to 2025.

I should mention I am not much of a futurist and my perspective is Canadian so here goes — politically there will be a shift to the right of centre in the near future as Canada goes to the polls; we are losing the geographic advantages of the GREAT WHITE NORTH with climate change and a warming arctic, more aggressive global trade policies and Canada’s declining position on the global stage. It seems that fires and floods are a regular occurrence for us; economic productivity is on the edge of decline, and there seems to be an underlying tone of concern and grievance. Just sounds like a “WTF scenario” to me.

And this brings me to my word for consideration — a·dapt·a·bil·i·ty (/əˌdaptəˈbilədē/), a noun. It’s the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions or the capacity to be modified for a new use or purpose.

Change is in the air for 2025 and like it or not, you will need to deal with it; Adaptability is the quality that helps you navigate a dynamic and changing world. So how do you become adaptable? A big question for sure, with an answer bigger than this 500 word blog but I will offer some food for thought for becoming more adaptable — change your belief that there is a hard right or wrong, don’t believe there is such thing as a sacred cow, and it’s important to be curious about all things that are new. That will get you started as you define what adaptability means to yourself.

So that’s my word for 2025 — you may not like it or think it isn’t appropriate, and that is fair. All I can suggest is find something you can tether yourself to emotionally and intellectually as you manage through 2025. It is going to be a wild one, so buckle up. In the meantime, as I count the clock down to 2025, I will enjoy a fine Pinot Noir from California because I have such fond memories.

On the first day of 2025, I will include an early bike ride because I have some races to get ready for and I am still adapting to my new wheels.

iamgpe

"F-ing" 2024

21 days into the year there are already whispers referring to 2024 as “f-ing 2024” and if things stay on its current trajectory it will soon be “F^%$-ing 2024” and then simply “FUCKING 2024”.

Things that used to work have stopped working. Things that used to work are still working but in a different way. It’s raining when it should be snowing or snowing when it should be raining. What used to be real is now fake, and what used to be fake is now real — It is hard to tell what is going on other than the realization something is.

2023, in hindsight has been affectionately referred to as a dumpster fire and foresight has suggested 2024 may be something much more incendiary, but don’t worry, I’m not going to attempt to be a futurist for many reasons, including my crystal ball is cracked. Besides, that’s what social media scrolling is for.

What I want to offer, or at least attempt to, are thoughts on working through challenging times such as “f-ing 2024”.

Consideration Number 1 for working through “f-ing 2024”

Keep your wits about you — my off and on again collaborator iamGPT has suggested I need to be more precise so let me start with a definition.

wit /wit/ (noun) plural noun: wits 1. mental sharpness and inventiveness; keen intelligence. 2. a natural aptitude for using words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humor.

What I mean by keeping your wits about you is to stay aware of what’s going on, look at thinks critically and unemotionally, and validate facts and figures before you act. This is not the time to sit on the sidelines as a victim (which is a growing pass time it seems) but offer constructive solutions and be prepared to do the work to bring them to life. And one last point, although crying and laughing are so closely related, the sound of laughter brightens up a room while you are using your wits.

Consideration Number 2 for working through “f-ing 2024”

Look after your health, and again in the spirit of preciseness, this is what I mean. 1) Get enough sleep (probably seven to nine hours a day); sure you can live on five or six hours but over time it is not in your best interest. 2) Be active and don’t get in the habit of burning less calories then you take in. Health is one of those things that you’re healthy until you are not. 3) Stay calm and work on managing stress. A case in point — I just completed a 14 day blood pressure audit and found my pressure bounces around wildly. If I spend time on controlling breathing though, my pressure is around the ideal 120/80 mark. I don’t have a circulatory problem but I have a “calm the fuck down problem”, which is still a problem. 4) Remember what you put into the machine impacts how it will run — try to make sure you eat as well as you can.

Consideration Number 3 for working through “f-ing 2024”

Work on your relationships and networks because everything you will accomplish is the result of teamwork — it really is a full stop sort of thing. Not only will very little get done without a team around you, the importance of human connection can’t be overstated. In the post pandemic years, there is continued reporting that many are more isolated than ever and that simply is not good emotionally or physically. Oh, and see if you can cut your social media consumption by 25% and get outside because social media is not connection. The papers regarding how bad it actually is keeps piling up.

Consideration Number 4 for working through “f-ing 2024”

Over communicate (everything). When it gets fluid (i.e crazy), and there is a working premise that 2024 will be, it’s important to communicate to the best of your ability. Let people know what you are doing, don’t assume your colleague knows that is happening, reduce surprises because people hate surprises — so give people a heads up. I have noticed an unfortunate situation happening in many places which I like to call “Don’t ask; don’t tell”; a breakdown in proactive communication. Why this is happening more and more I can’t say, but I do know it’s nothing but a roadblock for getting things done.

Consideration Number 5 for working through “f-ing 2024”

Historically speaking, difficult times are not something new, and many would suggest there have been some years that will make 2024 look rather non eventful (comparatively speaking). Granted, with over amplification as a result social media and mass media, everything seems overwhelming bad, but if you step back and keep your wits about you, 2024 can be navigated effectively.

One final consideration

Let’s say 2024 will be a year of problems based on the first 21 days. Don’t forget opportunities are inevitably also present (problems and opportunities are like kissing cousins). So remember while you are putting out fires and trying to figure out why what was working isn’t working anymore, there will be new opportunities just waiting for you can take advantage of. What will they be? I don’t know. I already told you I am not much of a futurist. Although I will say, I am an optimist and optimists are always looking for opportunities.

Best to be an optimist!

iamgpe