#outer sensemaking

The pressure to adopt AI at speed is producing a great deal of noise but not a huge amount of signal. Many are debating this. From economists resurrecting a 40-year-old productivity paradox; to philosophers challenging Silicon Valley's token-counting obsession; to Microsoft's diagnosis of organisations as the bottleneck; to a quiet case for deliberate slowness.

AI is racing ahead while companies are still tying their shoes. Logarithmic, slow, human change vs exponential, accelerating, technological change. The classic tension between the two explains why humans consistently underestimate tech’s impact.

AI’s rapid leaps are shaking markets, jobs and the wider tech world. With each new breakthrough, we’re pushed to choose our response — fear or innovation.

Juggling a new innovation-focused AI role and thoughts on how to keep my writing meaningful amid the AI slop deluge has led to a long break. Here are some initial views on what will make a difference plus some well curated articles.

Dive into this collection of articles covering the twists and turns of AI-driven transformation. From kaizen-fueled strategies at Microsoft to debunked innovation fairy tales, you’ll discover why some AI projects soar while others, well, don’t make it past the launchpad. Also, why creativity and imagination are still our last best bet at retaining sanity, being productive and beating AI.

This post of curated articles covers everything from AI (no surprise), innovation, attention, Agents and management. One in particular is sending shock waves in enterprise AI circles.

AI progress is relentless. Many are deep in the challenge—failing, succeeding, learning. That’s the point: you must be in it to win it. Waiting to see if it’s hype risks falling too far behind to ever catch up.

Common themes this week: accelerating transitions to the future of work, the shift from traditional profit-centric business models to value creation for customers, exposing inefficiencies in the SaaS industry and creative and mindful work practices.