Thinking in AI Age

AI continues to change the landscape across industries. A lot of users are using tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. These tools are not fool proof, but provides enough information to convince users that they are right. At times, it feels good. You also feel that you got some new information. Your curiosity gets a push.

When google search came out, it was more popular. That simple interface of search engine lured people to ask all sorts of questions.

More than 20 years later, we still use Google. But AI tools have made a lot of difference now. Google still provides the search results, but nobody has time to go look each search result to see if that provides the right answer to the query. On the other hand, AI tools provide immediate answer along with reference links.

The confidence AI tools show in their answers convince a lot of people that the answers are right. This begs a question on how do you think in the current AI age? Another challenge is if you have a simple question, you ask that to AI tools now instead of figuring out yourself. Google search didn’t provide ready made answers, it was still stitching the information together for many people.

There are multiple issues with using AI tools as is

1. AI tools answers can be outdated, but the reader probably will overlook that. It all depends on the models and the data they have been trained on.
2. The information can be completely incorrect, but tools will still show confidence in their answers. Taking these answers at face value is challenging.
3. Ease of these tools make users to ask every possible question to them. Outsourcing your thinking will have long term effects.
4. Not cross-checking OR not challenging AI for their answers can lead to misinformation.

Whether you are using AI tools to build something OR to gather information, first principle thinking is still your best bet. Going deeper on the important questions is critical. Why? How? What? When? – These are still crucial information gathering questions.

If you want to have an edge in current times, you still want to think about the questions you ask to AI tools. You should still try to find answers on your own. First principle thinking can help to improve your thinking and understanding.

Writing your questions, your understanding of those questions and going deeper to find the answers can lead to better invention. Do not outsource your thinking and do not outsource your understanding.