We switched your curiosity provider

With their apartment finally in calm mode, he could stay on the couch forever, but there are still things to discuss tonight. The wine’s complex aroma is a pleasant surprise after the chaotic day he’d rather forget.

- So what’s the next thing for tonight?

- A lot has changed since I stepped away from the neurobiome scene, and I need to learn, but learning is the easy part. My biggest advantage over AI is not knowledge but curiosity. I need it back fast.

- Ok. I know where this is going. Let’s get it done right away.

Two taps and a confirmation nod later, she smiles.

- Done. Thank you.

- Never save on your growth. Cheers to you.

- So…

He takes a sip as short as his sleep was this night.

- We switched your curiosity provider. What was wrong with the old one?

- I was not curious anymore. Like not curious at all.

- Hmm. Learning without curiosity is torture. What’s your plan? More languages?

- Yes, but I’ve been hearing this question all the time recently. Why learn a new language if AI can translate everything?

He smiles as she shrugs her arms in disbelief.

- Can you believe it? Why lift weights at the gym if robots are stronger anyway? You can’t grow with no effort. New instrument, new sport, new place. Learning makes your brain alive.

- Are you worried that AI will make everyone artificially incompetent?

- I feel like I’m in a cheap horror movie in some conversations.

- “Rise of the Promptheads”. Coming soon to a bookstore near you.

- I’m serious. Instead of the golden era of original new thinking, we’re closer to “99 proven prompts to let you never have to think again”.

- I’m stealing this one. Instant bestseller material.

- Can you finish the “137 Perfect Excuses for Any Occasion” first?

He raises his glass, nodding.

- Point taken.

- Our brains run on newness. New connections, new things, new places, new people.

She takes a deep breath.

- New gives you the surprise factor, the joy of discovery, the sense of letting go. Things you already know and have an opinion about, don’t have all that.

- Our brains run on travel.

She tilts her head intrigued.

- You think so? Are we the people who travel to find something or those travelling to run away from something?

- Hmm. It’s interesting to think of when you put it that way. I’m not sure. Maybe a mix of both?

- That’s a lazy answer.

- No, no. Hear me out. Maybe we travel somewhere new when we need to find ourselves and return to familiar places when we want to lose ourselves again?

- When you put it that way.

- Anyways. What’s next on the list?

The gentle cry of their baby softly fills the room through the monitor.

- He’s next. I’ll get it. It’s my turn.

- I would have helped you if I had been there in person. Love you.

- Love you too. Call you later.

He brushes his fingers through the fading outline of her projection before it flickers away. One more stretch, and he's ready for the challenge.

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Hello Practical Futurists,

Welcome back from the future, where curiosity providers are essential services that help maintain humanity's greatest advantage over AI as a renewable resource.

Hit the "Like" button at the top or bottom of this page to help other strategic thinkers build a future-ready mindset.

Great leaders don't just think about the future. They experience it.

Like elite athletes who vividly visualize their performance, exceptional leaders build detailed mental pictures of possible futures to inform better decisions today.

Each week, our imagination workouts combine futures thinking and practical sci-fi, helping you build a personal library of future memories. These vivid mental scenarios transform abstract possibilities into clear reference points, sharpening your strategic instincts and enhancing your readiness for the age of AI.

Ready to expand your imagination? Here's a thought to start with:

Now, let's make this future personal.

We'll connect the ideas from this story directly to your life, turning abstract possibilities into practical memories you can use to confidently navigate tomorrow's challenges.

Personal life reflection prompts

1. If our brains indeed "run on newness," what kinds of novel experiences give you the most meaningful mental stimulation?

2. What 3 methods do you use to maintain your natural curiosity in a world where information is instantly accessible?

3. When did you last feel a spark of genuine curiosity? What 3 specific actions could reignite your curiosity when it fades?

4. Try to recall the first time you switched curiosity providers and felt your natural sense of wonder reactivate:

- What immediate changes did you notice in how you interacted with familiar environments?

- Which everyday object suddenly seemed fascinating again?

- What question did you ask that surprised even yourself?

5. How do you balance the efficiency of automated solutions with the personal growth that comes from learning things yourself?

6. Think back to when you deliberately pursued learning something AI could easily do for you:

- What surprising joy did you discover in the process?

- How did the knowledge feel different than if you'd outsourced it?

- What unexpected connection did this create with others pursuing similar learning?

7. What subject initially bored you but later became fascinating once you discovered its hidden depths? What changed your perspective?

Fantastic work!

You're building an impressive collection of future-focused insights. Now, let's supercharge your thinking by adding powerful professional leadership moments.

How will you guide your team or organization through the future you've just envisioned? Let's create memorable leadership experiences together.

Professional life reflection prompts

1. What unique value does human curiosity bring to your industry that can't be replicated by automated systems right now?

2. How much time does your team spend exploring problems versus rushing to solutions? What meeting format better balances these essential activities?

3. Try to recall leading the team redesigning your organisation strategy to balance algorithmic forecasting with human questioning better:

- Which assumption-challenging question led to your most significant strategic pivot?

- How did the rhythm of strategic discussions change when curiosity became explicitly valued?

- What novel business model emerged from this reframed understanding?

- What unexpected relationship emerged between curiosity indicators and long-term business outcomes?

4. In which 2 areas of your work could deliberately maintaining a beginner's mindset serve you better than pursuing expert status?

5. How has your team's approach to problem-solving evolved with increasing access to AI tools? Are you seeing more delegated thinking or, instead, augmented human insight? Why?

6. Think back to the first training program that helped your team rebalance AI assistance with human curiosity:

- What framework or guideline proved the most effective in practice?

- How did meeting structures and decision-making processes evolve?

- What unexpected strength emerged from a thinking style that had been previously undervalued?

- How did this approach change future project planning?

7. What systems could you implement to prevent overreliance on template solutions and encourage original thinking?

8. What 3 metrics or indicators would help you assess whether your professional environment nurtures or stifles curiosity?

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You did amazing! Excellent work!

Today's insights are valuable additions to your growing library of future experiences.

Thank you for expanding your imagination with us. Leaders with bold ideas move our world forward.

Think bright, and see you soon.
Pawel Halicki

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