Most people use AI for basic tasks like writing and searching, but AI’s real value lies in augmenting our capacity for higher-order skills like critical thinking, creativity, and constructive analysis. It’s not just a tool for surface-level tasks—AI helps us clear the “dirty water” by continuously questioning, analyzing, and exploring ideas.

AI enables us to push beyond what we can naturally perceive, surfacing possibilities that are initially hidden in the clutter of our thoughts. Once we’ve refined and filtered these ideas, AI assists in structuring them constructively, allowing us to present clear, well-formed solutions.

😎 Short-term memory: Humans can handle 7 ± 2 items, while AI can process 3,000 to 32,000 tokens (around 25,000 words).

😎 Context retention: Humans lose track after a few steps, but AI retains information throughout an entire session (up to 32,000 tokens).

😎 Cognitive load: Humans can manage 5-9 tasks at a time, but AI can handle thousands simultaneously.

😎 Data processing: Humans are limited to small datasets, whereas AI can process gigabytes to terabytes of data per second.

Ed Sheeran’s “dirty water” analogy sums it up perfectly: our initial thoughts are murky, but through constant questioning and reflection—much like how AI critically analyzes and explores from multiple angles—we filter out the clutter until we reach clear, innovative ideas. This is where creativity thrives, and where AI shines.

Finally, AI becomes a key tool for constructively organizing these refined insights into well-structured solutions, ensuring everything is clear for maximum impact.

Focus on three key areas in the AI-driven future:

Critical thinking: Use AI to challenge your assumptions and ask better questions.

Creativity: Keep pushing ideas until all possibilities are explored. Initially, you’ll surface basic thoughts, but when pushed further, AI helps reveal deeper, more innovative possibilities.

Constructive analysis: Structure your thoughts and solutions clearly with AI, ensuring the message is well-organized and impactful.

By focusing on these higher-order skills, we can unlock AI’s true potential and push beyond basic tasks. AI isn’t just a tool—it’s an amplifier of human cognitive power, helping us achieve things we couldn’t on our own.