Lately, I’ve been reflecting on a few key insights shared at the #R4 Conference (with Ethan Mollick and others) — and they really hit home.
Here’s what stood out to me most:
1. You need a ton of ideas to get to one great one.
Innovation isn’t about one brilliant thought — it’s about throughput. Trying, failing, iterating. Most ideas don’t work, but the few that do change everything.
2. Don’t stop at “it works.”
Teams that settle for “good enough” plateau early. The magic happens when you push past what’s functional to what’s astonishing.
3. Use information — don’t just consume it.
We’re drowning in data and “AI hot takes.” Real progress happens when we build, test, and learn hands-on.
4. Build something yourself.
No amount of reading about AI replaces using it. Every hour I spend experimenting sharpens my understanding more than a week of theory.
5. Individuals can now do what teams once did.
AI is flattening the hierarchy of creation. The new question isn’t “Who’s on your team?” — it’s “What have you built?”
6. Celebrate curiosity.
The people who experiment courageously — even in small ways — are shaping the future.
7. AI isn’t just technology; it’s transformation.
It’s changing how we work, learn, and think. The real challenge is adapting our mindset, not just our tools.
8. AI agents are real, and they’re already useful.
We’re entering an era where individuals can amplify their productivity 10x or 100x. The frontier isn’t theoretical anymore.
9. Voice and multimodal AI will change everything.
Once we can talk to our tools as naturally as to people, productivity will leap in ways we can barely imagine.
10. The real choice is simple: opt out or double down.
AI isn’t optional anymore. You can watch the wave, or you can ride it. Personally, I’d rather surf. 🌊
My takeaway: We’re living through the most empowering technological shift in decades. But the real differentiator won’t be access to tools — it’ll be curiosity, courage, and the willingness to keep experimenting.
