Quick Answer
For search, voice, and "just tell me what to do".
Why AI Makes Deliberate Thought More Valuable, Not Less.
Key Takeaways:
- Speed is a Commodity: Anyone can be fast. Not everyone can be wise.
- Direction > Velocity: It doesn't matter how fast you run if you are running off a cliff.
- The Premium of Patience: Deep, slow, researched work stands out in a sea of hot takes.
In-Depth Analysis
The Tortoise and the GPU
The Hare is now Silicon. It runs verify fast. It never gets tired. The Human cannot compete on running. So the Human must compete on navigating.
The Economy of Speed
When the cost of creating words drops to zero, the value of editing words skyrockets. When the cost of code drops to zero, the value of architecture skyrockets. All of these high-value activities (Editing, Architecture, Strategy) are Slow Tasks. They require deep context, history, and judgment.
How to slow down
- Draft Fast, Edit Slow: Use AI to generate the raw material instantly. Then spend days shaping it.
- Problem Finding: Spend 80% of your time defining the problem. AI can solve it in seconds once defined.
- Second-Order Thinking: AI is bad at "And then what?" It answers the immediate query. You must think three moves ahead.
Be the slow gear that turns the fast engine.
Playbook
The 'No-Reaction' Rule: Do not react to market news for 24 hours. Let the noise settle.
Slow Prompts: Write prompts that are paragraphs long, detailing context, constraints, and philosophy. Treat the prompt as a legal contract.
The Think Week: Disconnect for a week to do the strategic thinking AI cannot do. (Bill Gates style).
Common Pitfalls
- Analysis Paralysis: Using 'slow thinking' as an excuse for procrastination.
- Irrelevance: Being so slow you miss the market window.
- Intellectual Snobbery: Thinking speed doesn't matter. It does—but it must be directed speed.
Metrics to Track
Quality of Strategic Decisions (Lagging indicator)
Time spent on 'Problem Definition' vs 'Solution Execution'
Revenue per Decision
FAQ
Can't AI think fast AND smart?
AI simulates intelligence, but it doesn't have *wisdom*. Wisdom is the application of values to facts. That requires a human pause.
How do I sell 'slow'?
You sell 'Correct'. You sell 'Thoughtful'. You sell 'Bespoke'. People pay a premium for things that weren't rushed.
Related Reading
AI as a Silent Partner
Explores the philosophy of AI as a background collaborator—never the voice, always the amplifier. This approach centers on maintaining strict boundaries, using intentional prompts to guide output rather than surrendering to it, and sharpening human discernment. The goal is to remain the final moral and creative authority, using AI to handle the cognitive heavy lifting without eroding the human soul of the business.
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