The Real Power of AI: Why My Perspective on Intelligence is Shifting
Last year, if you’d asked me whether human intelligence still held the edge over artificial intelligence, I would have said yes without hesitation. I believed — and still believe — in the incredible nuances of human intellect: our ability to connect ideas, to feel deeply, to reflect, and to create meaning from our lived experiences. These, I thought, were powers unique to us, beyond the reach of machines.
But something shifted this year. The more I’ve tried to understand the fundamentals of AI, the more I’ve realized its potential from a new angle — one that’s changed how I see its role in shaping the future.
At the heart of this shift is a realization: AI is, at its core, a super learning machine, one that operates without the boundaries that confine human learning.
Let’s pause for a moment. Have you ever felt resistance to learning something new? Maybe you hesitated to pick up a skill because you feared failing, or perhaps you struggled to unlearn an old habit that no longer served you. These barriers — emotional, mental, and even physical — are uniquely human. And as much as they shape our growth, they also limit us.
AI, on the other hand, has no such resistance. It learns endlessly, iteratively, without hesitation or fear. It doesn’t need motivation or reassurance. It doesn’t tire or second-guess itself. Imagine if we could approach learning in the same way — without fear of failure, without bias, without resistance. What could we achieve?
Through my journey with the AI for Business Leaders program, ACE program at Asia School of Business in collaboration with MIT SLOAN, I began to see this potential more clearly. The course opened my eyes not just to AI’s disruptive capabilities in the business world but to its profound ability to transcend the very barriers that often hold us back. I came away thinking: it’s not that AI will outsmart humans by mimicking us — it’s that its intelligence comes from not being like us at all.
For example, consider how we process failure. As humans, failure stings.
It often makes us hesitant to try again. AI, in contrast, learns from failure instantly and uses it as fuel for improvement. Imagine if we could adopt this mindset. Imagine if failure wasn’t an end but a signal for recalibration and growth.
This isn’t to say human intelligence is obsolete. Far from it. Our ability to reflect, to feel empathy, to ask the deeper “why” questions — these are irreplaceable. But what if we could draw inspiration from AI? What if we could teach ourselves to learn with fewer boundaries and greater openness, to approach growth with the same tireless curiosity and adaptability?
So, here’s my question for you:
What barriers hold you back from becoming a limitless learner? Is it fear? Bias? Fatigue? Take a moment to reflect — what would your life look like if you could learn without hesitation or resistance? How might that reshape your potential?
As I continue to explore AI’s capabilities, I’ve realized that its power isn’t just in what it can do for us. Its true power lies in what it can teach us about our own limitations — and how we might overcome them. AI might be a “super learning machine,” but the most exciting part of this journey is realizing that we, too, have the capacity to grow beyond our current boundaries. We just need to start looking at learning differently.
I am glad I have completed the course! :D learning the tip of the iceberg of AI.
