Embrace AI with a Zero-based Mindset

AI has achieved knowledge equality, making knowledge no longer a privilege of a few. Everyone can easily understand, learn, and even do things they never understood before.

Here's the key point. Since AI is so powerful, what will we compete with in the future? In terms of knowledge, information, and experience, we can't match AI. And even in creativity and curiosity, we may not necessarily outperform it.

Let's think about it. Do you compare your speed with a car? Do you compare your computing ability with a computer? Of course not.

On one hand, we know we can't win because these aren't our strong suits. On the other hand, we create these tools for our use, and naturally, tools should be more capable than humans, just like a hammer is harder than your fist.

Let's not look too far ahead. At least in the next few years, what matters is execution ability, who can use AI better and act faster.

AI will widen the gap between people in terms of thinking and execution. Those who are good at using AI will make progress with its help, while those who don't know how to use it may become more lazy.

It's like when you have a test paper. You have the answers, detailed explanations, and even a teacher to guide you. AI is just like such a "cheating device".

Different students will get different results when they get this "cheating device".

Some students just want to finish the paper and copy the answers directly, while others will really try to understand the logic and problem-solving methods.

AI has two basic roles: an employee and a teacher.

We need to figure out when to let it play the role of an employee and when to let it act as a teacher.

When you hand over everything to AI, you should ask yourself what you're going to do.

Recently, I've seen a lot of short videos about AI or other technology applications.

For example, using digital humans to broadcast news, and real-time translators for chatting abroad. These translators can even be put on glasses, and in some important occasions, people use translators instead of human interpreters to solve language problems.

Developing a program is getting easier and easier. Someone who knows nothing about it may learn it in a few hours, or even just in ten or twenty minutes.

It's not that people are super smart, but that AI is incredibly powerful. It's like having a bunch of free employees; you just need to assign tasks to them.

There's a saying: What beats you may not be your peers, but an "alien species".

So, what should we do? I came up with a word - zero-based.

Both individuals and companies have their own advantages and disadvantages. Individuals may not have a lot of assets, but they are very flexible and can change directions more easily.

We should have a zero-based mindset. From now on, start from scratch, learn new things, and don't hold on to past experiences or have too much path dependence.

What you were good at before may not be useful in the future, and what you couldn't do before, you may be able to do now.

With the help of AI, you may be able to start from scratch, master a new skill in three months or half a year, and make money from it. It's very possible.

I remember a passage from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. It roughly says that in the future, mastering basic and general abilities is very important, while a specific major may not be that crucial.

Because technology changes so fast, in the future, you may only need half a year or a year to master a new major and then make money from it for three to five years.

So, start using AI right away. Learn what you want to learn and do what you want to do.

Although AI will break a lot of things, it will also reshape them and let you have some new things.

Xiaolu Daily Reading & Writing 2025.02.26【day541】