Peng LiuOne day, you may realize that a machine can do your job better than you. Not just faster, but smarter. That moment forces a simple but uncomfortable question: what should humans do next?
What humans create has always changed how we live. From the first tools to modern machines, each invention has made us stronger, faster, or more efficient. But these tools mainly helped us do things better, they did not replace what makes us human. AI feels different. It is not just helping us do tasks; it is starting to think (in ways that may be closer to how we think than we expected), create, and solve problems. It can generate research ideas, write code, and produce high-quality work. The experience and knowledge we have built over decades, once seen as a strong advantage, now feel less certain. Because of this, AI is not just another tool. It challenges how we understand intelligence itself. This creates uncertainty, but also an opportunity to rethink how we think.
In the TED talk , Steve Haupt explains that we are living through a paradigm shift, and that success in this new era depends on updating our mental models, the way we understand the world. Many of our current ways of thinking were built when human intelligence was unique. Now that this is changing, those models may no longer work. This leads to an important question: if machines can think—even if in a different way from us—what should humans focus on? Of course, we need to learn how to adapt, but how? It means questioning our assumptions, staying open to change, and actively updating how we think. This is not easy, especially when we begin to challenge our own beliefs.
This also changes how we should approach education. It should focus more on teaching how to think in the age of AI—thinking critically, asking good questions (like ask what should I think beyond what ChatGPT thinks), and adapting to new situations. More importantly, as Steve suggests, we need to examine our core beliefs and challenge our own mental models, especially when we feel emotionally attached to our views.
We need to update our mental models in a deep way. Our past experience may not always guide us in a fast-changing world. This requires curiosity and a willingness to rethink what we believe. AI is not just changing technology, it is changing how we think. If we adapt, we will not only keep up with change, we will shape a future where humanity can live healthier, longer, and better.
In the end, the future will depend on how well we can rethink ourselves, won’t it? But then, what does it really mean to be human in the future? This reminds me one of my favorite books: Being You: A New Science of Consciousness by Anil Seth!
