The Human Edge summary

If you’ve ever watched a talent search, you’re familiar with this scenario: a singer takes the stage and it’s immediately clear that they know their stuff – each note is pitch-perfect.

However, the judges, and you at home, aren’t quite convinced. Something’s missing. Perhaps energy, passion, or what people call the “X factor.” The contestant is skilled but doesn’t have what it takes to become a superstar.

Here’s a common movie storyline: A teenager abandons a sport that he’s talented in and passionate about because a parent doesn’t think it’s worth pursuing. You’ve probably watched something along these lines once or twice.

Off the big screen, many people are dissuaded from developing their natural talents for similar reasons. And there’s a particular talent that everyone is born with that’s often suppressed by our environment.

In the previous blink, we learned why creativity dwindles as we grow, and why it’s more important than ever to rebuild it. The question is: Exactly how do we do it?

Many things in life are the result of multiple components working together, and creativity is no different. Along with curiosity, consciousness and collaboration, creativity will differentiate us from AI in the workplace. And these skills don’t work independently. They actually feed into and build on each other.

Ever sat back to consider how far questions have brought us? If someone hadn’t wondered why we can’t fly, we probably wouldn’t have the luxury of air travel. This, and a host of other inventions we have today, started as questions in the minds of curious individuals.

Asking questions is beyond the capabilities of AI machines. They can process the questions that we program them to, but they can’t come up with new ones of their own and, consequently, can’t form novel ideas.

Anyone who knows writers or musicians will have heard about the creative block – that frustrating period when good ideas are nowhere to be seen. The bad news is: it doesn’t just affect artists. Whether you’re writing, composing, or solving a business problem, you’re fair game.

But there’s good news, too. There are ways to make your creative blocks a thing of the past.

Quick question: How often do you think you check your smartphone?

If you’re thinking every 45 minutes or every 30 minutes, you’re way off. The United Kingdom’s communication watchdog reports that the average person checks their phone every two minutes. And the average time spent online? That’s about 24 hours a week.

Okay, so you’re learning, asking intriguing questions, and coming up with stellar ideas. Plus, you’ve regained precious time and attention.

Congratulations! You’ve got curiosity, creativity, and consciousness sorted.