Work

AI lacks subjective taste, relying on data patterns rather than human intuition or emotion. While AI enhances productivity, true creativity requires an author’s unique vibe and lived experience. Humans provide the authenticity and spirit that machines cannot replicate.

Human taste serves as a vital differentiator in commercial processes as AI automates output. Productivity belongs to robots, leaving humans to focus on the "wasteful" play and experimentation arising from our curiosity. Ultimately, humans will use AI as an amplifier, encoding their "golden intent" more and more to project themselves further into the world.

This farewell reflection chronicles my departure from a twenty-eight-year career. The article highlights the importance of curiosity and genuine human connections over the pursuit of status or financial gain. It discusses the psychological challenges of entering retirement, advocating for a life lived at a slower, more deliberate pace to resist the pressures of modern society. Finally, the article touches on imposter syndrome and the unique value found in long-term professional trust. Ultimately, the narrative serves as an encouragement to embrace vulnerability and prioritise personal values when making major life transitions.

In-person work has a profound impact on personal development, which has been eroded in the wake of widespread Post-Covid remote work adoption. The spontaneous interaction and relationship-building that physical presence at the office once fostered are now largely gone, removing an important source of self-awareness, personal development, and our sense of belonging. While productivity can be achieved remotely, the deeper human aspects of work — trust, purpose, and self-discovery — are best cultivated through in-person engagement.

A car is transportation incarnated as a product, whereas a taxi is transportation incarnated as a service. A house is shelter-as-a-product, whereas an AirBnB is shelter-as-a-service. Understanding the difference between these two types of offerings will help you draw parallels with your business and point the way to the creation of a more compelling offering in the marketplace.