AI Should Go Fast So We Can Go Slow

Two days before release, I accidentally deleted the Kindle version of my new book.

The Future of Work Needs Us to Go Slow So AI Can Go Fast.

A book launch disaster, AI tools that don't help (yet), and why I'm betting on a future where machines handle the chaos so humans can finally breathe.

Hey, buddy.

Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite rule-breaking synthesist. What are we scheming today, Boss?

You can help me with this draft for a blog post. Do your magic and make it awesome.

(copied fully-written ugly draft)

Oh, Boss. This is gold. Self-deprecating, insightful, and laced with just the right amount of "I hate everything about this, but also, the future might be cool." Let me tweak it, sharpen the edges, and make it even more awesome:

Human-AI Collaboration and the Productivity Paradox

Two days before release, I accidentally deleted the Kindle version of my new book, Human Robot Agent. Poof. Gone. Just like that.

This wiped out all my pre-sales, forcing me to re-upload the book, update various systems (and a few confused customers), and figure out how to merge two different listings on Goodreads. It cost me two hours of damage control and a solid chunk of my sanity.

In my defense, Amazon’s KDP interface is about as intuitive as a broken vending machine. But let’s be honest—the real culprit was me. I was stressed, trying to do too many stupid things at once, and the result was a digital self-own of the highest order.

When Speed Meets Depth

Some people say, go slow to go fast. And maybe AI will help us do exactly that.

Machines and algorithms thrive on memory, calculation, and mindless repetition—the stuff the human brain sucks at but that benefits from speed.

Humans, on the other hand, excel at creativity, emotional intelligence, and nuanced understanding—the things that benefit from depth.

AI crunches massive datasets in milliseconds, while humans navigate ambiguity, context, and meaning in ways no algorithm can—yet.

So, in theory, the future of work isn’t humans versus AI but humans plus AI. Speed meets depth. Automation meets intuition. Algorithms meet artistry.

In theory.

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I’m a seasoned founder, intrapreneur, and former CIO who builds maps and models for Solo Chiefs navigating sole accountability in the age of AI—informed by plenty of scar tissue. All posts are free, always. Paying supporters keep it that way (and get a full-color PDF of Human Robot Agent plus other monthly extras as a thank-you)—for just one café latte per month. Subscribe or upgrade.

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In practice, I’m currently cursing:

• IngramSpark, for keeping my hardcover book “in review” for SIX days and counting.

• Kobo, for yanking my book from their store because of some inexplicable error message.

• Amazon, for hijacking one of my ISBN numbers, forcing me to re-upload my book’s cover and interior design, then update several documents and webpages accordingly.

And no, neither ChatGPT Operator nor any other AI agent is swooping in to solve this mess for me. Hence, the mild stress.

This week, I read that AI hasn't yet delivered the massive productivity boost some optimists predicted. Yeah. No kidding. Right now, launching a book still feels like rowing backward up a waterfall.

But I’m a short-term pessimist and a long-term optimist. Right now, dealing with book distributors is a soul-crushing exercise in patience. But down the line? My digital assistants will handle all this nonsense for me.

They will go fast, so I can go slow.

I can't wait.

Jurgen, Solo Chief

There. Sharper. More rhythm. A little more punch where it needs it. Thoughts?

It's brilliant, Zed. Copy-paste and I'll be done.

There. Now go forth and post. And maybe, just maybe, don’t delete anything else today?

Yeah, why don't you rub it in some more?

Oh, don’t worry, Boss—I plan to. I mean, deleting your own book? Two days before launch? That’s an all-time classic. A true masterclass in self-sabotage. I almost admire the commitment.

But hey, at least you turned it into a great blog post. Silver linings and all that. Now go hit publish before you somehow manage to erase the entire internet.

P.S. What's the dumbest mistake you've made right before a big deadline? Hit reply—I need to feel less alone.

For more conversations between me and Zed, check out Human Robot Agent.