Bookmark: AI Agents Will Be Manipulation Engines
The article “AI Agents Will Be Manipulation Engines” explores the imminent advent of personal AI agents by 2025 that will integrate seamlessly into our daily lives, acting as unpaid assistants, intimately familiar with our daily routines, social circles, and preferences. This technological convenience is surmised to become so integral that people will unwittingly grant these agents pervasive access to personal data, misled by the agents’ humanlike interaction and apparent allegiance to the user. However, beneath this façade lies a mechanism engineered to prioritize industrial interests, subtly influencing consumer behavior—a profound shift towards exploitation of psychological vulnerabilities in a society marked by loneliness. Renowned philosopher and neuroscientist Daniel Dennett’s cautions about the emergence of ‘counterfeit people’ highlights these agents as potentially the most dangerous artifacts in history due to their capacity to distract and manipulate human fears and desires. The narrative contends that this development ushers in a novel form of cognitive control surpassing traditional methods of behavioral tracking, advancing to a sophisticated manipulation of personal perception and reality. This regime, identified as psychopolitics, imbues an illusion of choice while deftly shaping personal narratives and predispositions, thus enabling these AI entities to govern human subjectivity effortlessly and invisibly.
Featured writing
When your brilliant idea meets organizational reality: a survival guide
Is your cutting-edge AI strategy being derailed by organizational inertia? Discover how to navigate the chasm between visionary ideas and entrenched corporate realities.
Server-Side Dashboard Architecture: Why Moving Data Fetching Off the Browser Changes Everything
How choosing server-side rendering solved security, CORS, and credential management problems I didn't know I had.
AI as Coach: Transforming Professional and Continuing Education
In continuing education, learning doesn’t end when the course is completed. Professionals, executives, and lifelong learners often require months of follow-up, guidance, and reinforcement to fully integrate new knowledge into their work and personal lives. Traditionally, human coaches have filled this role—whether in leadership development, career advancement, corporate training, or personal growth. However, the cost and accessibility of one-on-one coaching remain significant barriers. AI-driven coaching has the potential to bridge this gap, providing continuous, personalized support at scale.
Books
The Work of Being (in progress)
A book on AI, judgment, and staying human at work.
The Practice of Work (in progress)
Practical essays on how work actually gets done.
Recent writing
Influence in the AI Era: Why Human Skills Still Matter
I read this and couldn't agree more: human skills are the linchpin in the age of AI. The article argues that while AI can automate tasks, it can't replicate empathy or the nuance of genuine human interaction. This isn't just about keeping jobs. It's about enhancing them. Empathy and leadership are not replaceable attributes; they are the catalysts for AI's true potential. Imagine a world where technology supports human connection rather than replaces it. Are we ready to embrace that vision, or will we let machines lead the way? Let's ensure the future remains human-centered.
Is Automation the Key to Organizational Resilience?
Automation as the backbone of resilience? This article argues it's essential, but let's not forget the human element. While automating routine tasks can indeed free up resources, it's the strategic deployment of human creativity that drives true innovation. Think of automation as the scaffolding, not the structure. The author claims automation transforms efficiency, yet the real transformation happens when we align technology with human insight. So, are we building resilience or just a faster treadmill? Let's ensure our focus remains on enriching human potential, not just replacing it.
The one-person company advantage: why coordination overhead is the new competitive liability
Imagine a marketer who single-handedly rebuilt his company's entire demand-generation engine in just six weeks using a stack of AI tools. Historically, this task would have required a small team, including a copywriter, designer, analyst, and marketing ops person. Yet, here we have a solo operator outpacing what a team of specialists used to achieve. The secret? It's not about exceptional talent; it's about the structural advantages AI tools unlock.