My encounters and experiments with AI

I have always embraced technology and been an advocate of how it can better lives. Back in 2002, my friends and I launched startups like i4bms.com and chaufferdriven.com. Even before the days of Zoom, I was exploring platforms like BlueJeans for better collaboration. Before MS Teams became the default for official messaging, I was dabbling with tools like Kaizala, Asana, PowerBI, and a multitude of others.

But all these efforts, fascinating as they were, served only to structure my cognitive ability. I had to think through every aspect deeply, figure out how to use the tools, and rally others around them—a challenging effort that often ended with these tools being used mostly for my personal productivity.

Then came Nov 2022, and the launch of ChatGPT. The monumental changes that followed—week on week, day on day—were mind-boggling.

Today, I can imagine the future of work as something as simple as turning on a tap for water or plugging into a socket for electricity. Cognitive effort—our ability to think, analyze, create, and solve—could soon become just as abundant and accessible. And this future, I believe, is coming sooner than most of us expect.

Have you heard of AI agents? If not, take a look at this video Watch this insightful video on AI agents. These agents represent a glimpse into a world where entire workflows can be automated and cognitive tasks can be performed independently, opening up a realm of possibilities.

You might say that these systems can never replace the spark of human brilliance. Maybe they won’t. But the truth is, the latest AI models are already operating at a level that rivals the cognitive power of advanced researchers. Consider tools like OpenAI's latest O3 and Google's Gemini FlashG2.0—they are capable of producing insights and ideas that match, or even surpass, those of highly skilled PhDs in certain domains. Some say, these may be closer to Artificial General Intelligence. And these tools are available to you at just $ 20 Per month!

Its difficult to fathom the change that's happening. Cognitive functions—once the domain of human effort—are becoming as accessible as utilities like water or electricity. Imagine a world where the heavy lifting of thought is done for you, leaving you free to focus on what really matters: the ideas, the problems, and the impact you want to create.

Well, what about work? That as we know it, won’t just adapt—it may fundamentally transform. There might be a day where each one of us is a manager, managing AI Agents! In a world where cognitive effort flows freely, the focus shifts from execution to direction. What problems are worth solving? What strategies will move the needle?

Will we see the rise of roles like a Chief Cognition Officer? Could an AI CXO team run billion-dollar enterprises with no humans—or just a handful? These scenarios aren’t far-fetched anymore.

The answer lies in the qualities machines cannot yet replicate: creativity, empathy, ethical reasoning, and intuition. (Hopefully for a few more months or years ??). These become the skills we value most. This is where we’ll find purpose and where we’ll thrive.

So What Can You Do to Build Your AI Capabilities?

Here are a few tools and resources that have helped me stay ahead:

YouTube for AI Tools

Search for "AI Tools," and you’ll find a wealth of videos and tutorials to guide you.

X Handles to Follow

• Matt Wolfe (@mreflow)
• Ethan Mollick (@emollick)
• Ben Tossell (@bentossell)
• Linus Ekenstam (@LinusEkenstam)
• Ammaar Reshi (@ammaar)
• Nathan Lands (@nathanlands)
• Swix (@Swizec)
• Latent Space Podcast (@latentspacepod)
• Lior.eth (@AlphaSignalAI)
• Riley Goodside (@goodside)

AI Tools I continue to use

• ChatGPT (especially the Canvas feature) but also explore Claude, Gemini, Grok, and Meta.
• Napkin.ai and Aippt.io for instant and beautiful presentations.
• InVideo or similar tools for creating small explainer videos.
• Zoom/MS Teams with recording features for minutes and transcript capture.
• NotebookLM by Google, which deserves a special mention for its productivity enhancements.

Finally, the disruptions to cognitive work is no longer a distant idea—it’s unfolding right now. Cognitive effort, once limited by time, skill, or capacity, is becoming as abundant and accessible as water or electricity.

In this world, the way we think about work, productivity, and value may be shifting fundamentally. Machines will handle the heavy lifting, leaving us free to focus on what no algorithm can replicate: our creativity, empathy, and purpose.

So, turn on the tap (of knowledge). Plug into the socket (of productivity). Let AI handle the rest while you focus on what truly matters. The future of work isn’t coming—it’s already here. Are you ready?