Your Mind Is a Network
What AI Teaches Us About Human Intelligence
I'm sure you've sat at least once in front of your computer to interact with an AI system like Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or any of the thousands of other solutions out there.
Tell me, did you ever feel ignorant throughout the exchange?
I did. I still do sometimes.
That "thing" apparently knows way more stuff than I know, thinks much faster than me, finds answers, and creates solutions in a fraction of the time I took to write my request (or prompt, as the experts call them).
Sure, the answers and solutions are not always correct. These "things" make mistakes. Experts call these errors "hallucinations". Like most humans, I make plenty of errors daily. Making mistakes—neuroscientists would call them "prediction errors"—is how our brain grows and learns. In fact, neuroscientist Anil Seth suggests that our entire perception of reality is a form of "controlled hallucination," making the AI's occasional mistakes seem almost... human.
Behind the Interface
But here's something to consider: when you interact with an AI system, you're not really chatting with a single entity. You're connecting to a vast network of computers, processors, and data centers. That "thing" answering your questions harnesses the power of thousands of specialized processors working together, consuming enough electricity to power your house for months.
Your brain, on the other hand, does incredible things while using about the same energy as a dim light bulb. But that's not the point.
The Network Nature of Mind
The real insight here is about networks. Just as AI systems derive their power from vast networks of interconnected processors, we humans have our own network advantage: each other.
As neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett wrote, "It takes more than one human brain to create a human mind."
Think about it: your vocabulary, your knowledge, your beliefs – they're all shaped by countless interactions with others. Your mind isn't just yours. It's a collaborative project. Your brain is an active node in a vast network of brains interacting and shaping each other.
Building Your Intelligence Network
So, what can we learn from this? Just as AI systems are intentionally architected to maximize their collective intelligence, we can be strategic about building our own network of connections.
Picture yourself as a node in a vast neural network of human minds. Each connection you make can either reinforce what you already know or challenge you with new perspectives. Some connections require a deep, ongoing investment of energy but lead to profound growth. Others are lighter touches that keep you connected to different worlds of knowledge and experience.
I love simple maps, so to help me navigate these different types of connections, I've developed the Network Intelligence Matrix. It's a simple tool to map your relationships and understand how they contribute to your growth and resilience.
The Network Intelligence Matrix
Each zone serves a different purpose:
Evolution Zone: Deep learning through diverse, strong connections
Exploration Zone: New perspectives through casual, diverse contacts
Safety Zone: Core support from similar-thinking close connections
Echo Zone: Easy belonging through casual, similar-thinking groups
Making It Work
Take a moment to map your own connections across these quadrants. Where do most of your relationships fall? You might have a robust Safety Zone filled with close friends who think like you, but few connections in the Evolution Zone where growth happens through challenging interactions. Or perhaps you're strong in the Exploration Zone with many casual, diverse connections, but need to deepen some relationships to create more Evolution Zone partnerships.
The key isn't to have equal numbers in each quadrant but to consciously cultivate the types of connections you need for your growth. And yes, AI can be part of this network – not as a replacement for human connections, but as a tool to enhance them.
The Path Forward
So next time you feel small comparing yourself to an AI, remember: your power isn't in competing with machines as an individual. It's in your unique human ability to build meaningful connections and learn from others.
Your intelligence isn't a fixed quantity housed in your brain – it's an emergent property of your entire social network. Every conversation, every interaction, every exchange of ideas makes you smarter.
As we navigate this age of artificial and human intelligence together, I'm curious: would you like to connect so we can help each other expand our Network Intelligence?
After all, that's how our minds grow – one connection at a time.
Fantastic insight my friend