I met a high schooler last week who’d used AI to compose symphonies, ace advanced calculus, and write essays with wit beyond their years. Impressive, but what struck me wasn’t the output—it was the hollow look as they shrugged: “If AI can do this in seconds, what’s left for me to master?”

We’re barreling toward a world where “knowing how” fades as a differentiator. AGI will handle the difficult, technical, even creative moves. The finish line keeps moving. Suddenly, mastery itself—once our badge of progress—feels slippery.

So the question isn’t just ‘how do I keep up?’ It’s: where do I find meaning when everything can be achieved on autopilot?

The pivot is subtle: depth over breadth, questioning over completing. Our edge may not be in the acts of creating, but in the intent behind creation. The future belongs to those who can define purpose when productivity becomes trivial.

Tough news if you define yourself by your outputs. Liberating, if you’re ready to grapple with the questions only you can ask.

If you want an edge, start there.