Every day, we hear about the incredible capabilities of AI. It’s writing essays, designing products, diagnosing diseases, and even creating art. Generative AI models like GPT-4 seem to be doing it all, faster and better than ever before. Naturally, a question arises:
What’s left for us humans to do?
This question creates anxiety for many, but it doesn’t have to. The rise of AI isn’t the end of human expertise—it’s a call to rethink how we grow, adapt, and thrive in this new world. As I read Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise by Anders Ericsson, I realized this: if AI can learn and improve through structured training, why can’t we apply the same principles to deliberately train ourselves in areas where humans still have the edge?
Book Link
Lessons from Peak: How Practice, Not Talent, Creates Mastery
We’ve all heard of the 10,000-hour rule—the idea that putting in enough hours can make anyone an expert. But Peak makes an important clarification: it’s not about the hours; it’s about how you practice.
Ericsson calls it deliberate practice: a structured, feedback-driven method of skill-building that focuses on pushing past your comfort zone. This process rewires the brain, helping you master skills you never thought possible.
Here’s where it gets interesting: the way we train humans through deliberate practice isn’t so different from how we train AI models like GPT-4 or DALL-E. Think about it:
- AI models don’t just process data. They go through cycles of fine-tuning, reinforcement learning, and constant feedback to improve their performance.
- Similarly, humans improve not by repetition alone but by purposefully addressing weaknesses, testing limits, and iterating based on feedback.
The big difference? AI is trained to mimic patterns, while humans can innovate, connect emotionally, and create something entirely new. That’s our edge.
The Human Edge in an AI-Driven World
Generative AI excels in areas where repetition and pattern recognition dominate. It can generate text, code, or art based on what it’s been trained on—but here’s what it struggles with:
- Emotional depth: AI can’t feel. It can simulate emotions, but it doesn’t understand them.
- Strategic ambiguity: AI falters when there’s no clear input or outcome.
- Original creativity: AI can remix existing ideas, but humans generate true breakthroughs.
So instead of competing with AI in areas where it’s strong, we should double down on what makes us uniquely human. This is where deliberate practice comes in.
How We Can Practice Smarter, Not Harder
Ericsson’s principles of deliberate practice provide a blueprint for staying ahead in the AI era:
- Focus on weaknesses: Identify areas where you fall short and commit to improving them.
- Example: If you struggle with public speaking, focus on improving one aspect at a time, like body language or tone of voice.
- Seek constant feedback: Growth requires honest input—whether from a mentor, coach, or even yourself.
- Example: Record your practice sessions and analyze your performance.
- Push beyond comfort zones: Progress happens when you try things you can’t yet do.
- Example: Tackle challenges just outside your skill level, like negotiating a deal in a language you’re learning.
- Make it iterative: Deliberate practice isn’t a one-time effort; it’s a cycle of constant improvement.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because it mirrors how we train AI models. Recommendation systems like Netflix and Spotify don’t become experts by guessing—they learn through constant interaction and adaptation. Humans can do the same—but we have the advantage of creativity, intuition, and emotional intelligence.
A Call to Action: Let’s Practice What Makes Us Human
The rise of AI is an opportunity—not a threat—for humans to evolve. It’s a chance to deliberately train ourselves in areas where machines can’t compete. Think about it:
- In leadership: Practice inspiring and guiding people through uncertain times.
- In creativity: Push yourself to create ideas that go beyond the obvious.
- In relationships: Build deeper empathy and emotional intelligence.
The future isn’t about humans vs. AI—it’s about humans mastering what makes us unique.
Want to Start Your Journey of Deliberate Practice?
To help you get started, I’ve created a mind map summarizing the key lessons from Peak. It highlights the principles of deliberate practice and how you can apply them to your personal and professional life.
If you’re interested in receiving the completed mind map, leave the keyword "Koodall" in the comments below, and I’ll send the PDF file to you via DM. Let’s deliberately practice what makes us exceptional—and stay ahead together.