A friend of mine, an executive at a mid-sized company, confessed over coffee last week: “I feel like I’m running faster just to stay in place. There’s a new AI tool every week, and I can’t tell what’s signal and what’s noise.”

It’s familiar. The myth is that learning to wrangle every latest machine will keep us relevant. But the truth is messier: when the dust settles, even the cleverest app will be just another button. The only thing that actually compounds? Abstract skills — the ones algorithms can’t (yet) grasp, like slicing through hype, seeing unintended consequences, or asking the question nobody thought to ask.

Critical thinking isn’t a buzzword for high school essays. It’s the survival kit for an era where AGI’s arrival is a “when,” not an “if.” If you know how to frame a new context, size up a novel problem, or reimagine the definition of value — you’re already operating on the next level.

What I’m seeing: The strongest teams don’t just adopt AI; they learn to question it, reshape their workflows, and sense cracks before others spot them. Those who treat AI as collaborator, not idol, reinvent faster — and more wisely.

Takeaway: As AI eats more of the routine, it’s not technical firepower, but metacognitive agility that will set the pace. Smart leaders upgrade what and how they think — not just what they use. Read More