Lately, I’ve been using AI a bit differently.
Not just to write faster or research better, but to challenge how I think — to hold a mirror up to my assumptions, my blind spots, and even my biases.
At SXSW this year, I sat in on a session called “The 5 Transformations.” It wasn’t about the latest tool or framework — it was about becoming a better thinker in a world full of noise, automation, and distraction.
That hit me. Because here’s the thing most people aren’t saying:
The future doesn’t belong to those who use AI.
It belongs to those who think clearly while using it.
1. Curiosity > Certainty
One of the ideas that stuck with me was this:
“Illuminate your path of curiosity.”
That sounds poetic — but it’s also practical.
As leaders, creators, and business owners, we’re constantly trying to make decisions. But it’s so easy to go with what feels familiar. What’s worked before. What confirms our gut.
I’ve been there.
I’ve pushed SEO strategies that worked for one client and completely flopped for another. I’ve doubled down on Google Ads because it should have worked — and watched the results burn cash with no clear reason why. It’s frustrating. I want to believe there’s a formula… but sometimes, there isn’t.
That’s why curiosity matters more than ever. Asking “What if I’m wrong?” is one of the most powerful things you can do. And now, we’ve got tools that can help us explore that in ways we never could before.
2. Challenge Your Own Biases (Yes, You Have Them)
I’ve started asking AI questions like:
- “What are the biases in my thinking?”
- “Can you argue the other side of this idea for me?”
- “What would someone with totally opposite values say?”
Sounds weird. But it works.
I’ve used it to understand legal cases. To reframe tough conversations with my wife or kids. Even to unpack moments of miscommunication at work. It’s like a digital therapist that doesn’t take sides — it just helps you process.
And it’s humbling. Because sometimes, AI shows you that you’re the problem. Or at least part of it.
But that’s where growth starts.
3. Try On Every Hat
There’s this framework called the Six Thinking Hats. You wear different “hats” to approach a problem from different angles: logic, emotion, risk, opportunity, creativity, big picture.
I love this idea because it’s like giving your brain a 360-degree view.
And with AI, it’s easy. Just ask it:
“Show me this decision through every lens — emotional, analytical, legal, creative, etc.”
You’ll get responses from each “hat” — and then you can even ask them to debate each other. It sounds like sci-fi (cue the Mission Impossible finger-swipe screen), but it’s incredibly practical for things like proposals, negotiations, or even brand strategy.
4. Resilience Is a Mindset (AI Just Helps You Practice It Faster)
If you run a business, you already know this: Things don’t always go the way you planned.
Clients change direction. Tech breaks. The “perfect” campaign underperforms.
I’ve lived it. I still live it.
But I believe — deeply — that every challenge is part of the journey God has laid out for us. Not to punish, but to teach. To sharpen. To prepare.
What AI is doing now is accelerating that learning cycle. It’s letting us test, fail, and improve faster than ever.
But only if we’re willing to be wrong.
Only if we stay humble.
Only if we’re willing to let it tell us something we didn’t want to hear.
Honestly, this post is a good example of that. I’m feeding AI my raw thoughts. Letting it ask questions. Seeing what comes up. Then shaping it into something meaningful I can share with you.
It’s not cheating. It’s collaboration.
It’s conversation.
And it’s helping me grow.
Final Thought: The Tools Don’t Make You Smart
We’ve got all this incredible technology at our fingertips. AI can generate ideas, write reports, analyze data, build apps.
But none of that matters if we aren’t asking the right questions. If we aren’t curious. If we aren’t willing to be challenged, corrected, or stretched.
So here’s what I’m learning:
We don’t need smarter AI. We need better thinkers.
And that starts with each of us — being willing to slow down, zoom out, and explore our ideas from every angle. It’s not easy. But it’s worth it.
