Creation implies differentiation.

I can clearly recall a day in 2012 when we went out for a family lunch. Upon arrival, my father, a gifted artist, stood in the restaurant parking lot for almost ten minutes admiring the texture and color of a tree bark. At the time, I found it somewhat frustrating, we were there to eat, and yet he was lost in observation. But as I reflect now on the process of creation, I see that moment differently. His artistic brilliance wasn’t just about his mastery with a brush. It was rooted in something deeper, his ability to observe the world with profound attention.

Artificial intelligence holds the promise of a new age of productivity where tedious tasks are automated, documents write themselves, emails summarize automatically, and presentations are built in seconds. But what if the real bottleneck isn’t the tools we use, but the mindset with which we use them?

History suggests that every wave of technological progress has offered us the gift of time. But instead of using that time to reflect and innovate, we have often filled it with more of the same, faster, but not deeper. More efficient, but not necessarily more meaningful.

Let’s take a step back and trace how we arrived here.

In today's fast-paced world, where answers are just a click away, we often prioritize speed over depth in learning. Studies show that students who engage with printed books rather than quickly searching online retain information better and develop a deeper understanding of concepts. But what if we took this idea even further? What if, instead of looking up answers in books or online, we relied entirely on our own thinking? 

Tears stream down Beauty’s face as she realizes the Beast is dying. She crouches low, softly kisses him—and in an instant, he transforms into a handsome prince. I’ve just finished reading Beauty and the Beast to my daughter, likely for the hundredth time, and I know it won’t be the last. She loves fairy tales, but as an adult, what should I make of them?

Spring brings an explosion of creation, new grass, blooming flowers, and baby chicks growing feathers. Nature effortlessly produces countless chemicals in leaves, flowers, and tree bark, without factories, manpower, or energy-intensive processes. It is as if a whole new world is conjured into existence, seamlessly and joyfully.