Skills we need for the AI-driven world
Machines are going to take over the world — This notion is no longer limited to sci-fi classics like The Terminator and The Matrix. GPT-4 is already here. The world we live in would change drastically.
We don't know what would become of schools and universities. We do know that any job that can easily be automated will be automated. We are not sure which things will remain the forte of humans.
So, what is the best course of action for us?
We need to identify the skills that will serve us the best, going forward. We need to help our children develop these skills instead of them following the years-old school curriculum.
As adults, we need these skills equally badly to keep up with the changing times:
Smarter decision making
In a world where machines can spit out options for ad copy and logo designs in seconds, making smarter decisions will become more and more critical.
Unfortunately, there is no crash course on decision-making.
Why?
Decision-making involves a lot of tools, frameworks, and judgment. We need to be aware of our biases, develop a rich suit of mental models to work with, and learn continuously from experiences.
Clarity in thinking
No one appreciates muddled-up thoughts. Gone are the days when you could impress:
investors with a long pitch deck,
potential employers with a 5-page resume, or
your boss with the length of a report.
Everyone can now see through the fluff.
One exercise that can sharpen your mind to think and frame the problem with clarity is the 3-1-1-1 Framework.
Reading is known to improve our critical thinking process. In changing times, revisit the books that inspired you the most in the past. It helps us develop new perspectives and equips us with more mental tools to work with the world around us.
Asking the right questions
The quality of your answers will be as good as those of your questions.
How can we improve our ability to ask the right questions?
Curiosity is the key. We need to be open to exploring the world around us and be present at the moment. The more curious and present we are, the more questions will pop up in our minds.
Narrowing down the scope of our questions can also help. e.g., Instead of asking, "What makes me happy" which is very broad, ask, "What do I like to do to unwind from a tiring workday?"
Instead of asking, "Who is my best friend," ask "Who is the one person I want to call when nothing seems to be going my way?"
Asking the right questions is a crucial part of problem-solving. What better way than start asking better questions from yourself → from others → from ChatGPT 😉
Emotional intelligence
The ability to understand our emotions and the emotions of others will be a critical life skill for times ahead. So will empathy and the ability to communicate effectively.
Human connections are drifting away because people are spending more and more time online.
It’s essential for us to teach our kids not to lose the ‘human touch’.
Reinventing ourselves time and again
Not just professionally, reinventing ourselves is something we need to be doing at an emotional and physical level as well.
❥ Not feeling like a fit body? Reinvent yourself to become the strongest and fittest self yet.
❥ Your days and months passing by working for others? Maybe it’s time to start working on your own dreams.
❥ People who you care about most don’t know you do? Maybe it’s time to reinvent relationships that matter.
The above list is not exhaustive. I would love to hear from you about what you think is missing from here. What other skills should we be working on and helping our children learn?
Let's stay on the road of learning and keep making progress 🙌