The Future Is Closer Than We Think

I’ve just come back from a two-day AI event that has blown my mind.

Not just because of the technology. Not just because of the endless possibilities. But because it forced me to see something clearly: the future isn’t arriving one day in the distance. It’s here. Now.

And the real question is, am I willing to step into it?

When the World Shifts Under Your Feet

For most of my adult life, I’ve prided myself on discipline and hard work. Of mastering skills one rep at a time. Whether that's running, poker, coaching or writing.

AI felt like the opposite of that. Almost like cheating. A shortcut.

When the first version of chatGPT came out, I was in the process of writing my first book for poker players.

After seeing what it could do, instead of feeling motivated, I felt demoralised.

I thought it was cheating and that now anyone could write a book, which would take the value away from it. As a result, I put the book project on hold and I almost scrapped it altogether.

But sitting in those talks, watching demonstrations, and speaking to people building with AI every day, something shifted in me.

This isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about expanding what’s possible.

I realised I’ve been standing at the edge of a new playing field, still warming up on the sidelines, while others are already on the court creating entirely new games.

And if I keep waiting for the “right time” to dive in, I’ll miss it.

AI as a Partner, Not a Tool

One of the clearest insights I had was that AI isn’t just another tool. It’s a partner.

Rather than thinking of AI as something to replace you, think of it as a way to enhance everything you are doing.

For example, I've spent years creating worksheets, exercises, and frameworks for people in my coaching programs. They work, but they’re static. A piece of paper, or a PDF, can only take you so far.

But now, we can make those worksheets come alive. Each person can get a customised experience, guided step by step by an AI coach that knows their goals, their personal experiences, and their blind spots.

It can make learning interactive and conversational. Not a framework, but a living guide. A partner that learns with you.

The thought of that excites me. It feels like the next frontier of teaching — not just sharing information, but creating unique journeys.

The Edge Is in the Questions You Ask

One of the temptations of AI is to let it do the heavy lifting for you. Ask it for the ideas. Ask it for the answers. Ask it to think, so you don’t have to.

But I’ve learned that’s the part you can’t outsource. The struggle of thinking is where the growth happens. It’s what sharpens your perspective, builds your clarity, and shapes your voice.

I was reminded of this back in my poker career. There were times I’d stare at a hand history and just want the computer solver to show me the “right” play. But the real breakthroughs didn’t come from copying answers. They came from wrestling with the hand myself. Asking, Why did I feel uncomfortable in this spot? What patterns am I missing? What question would unlock the logic here?

The same thing happens in coaching. The biggest shifts don’t come when I hand someone a neat solution. They come when I ask a question that makes them stop, reflect, and see themselves differently.

And I think it’s the same with AI. The more curious you are, the more you experiment, the deeper you reflect — the better your results will be.

The edge isn’t in the answers.

It's in the questions you ask.

And in your willingness to wrestle with them, instead of rushing to let something answer them for you.

Reimagining Work and Identity

As I listened to people talk about AI agents, avatars, and automation, a question kept surfacing for me: If AI can write like me, speak like me, even look like me — what’s left of me?

That thought was unsettling. And I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. So much of our identity is tied to what we do — the work we create, the skills we’ve mastered, the role we play in the world. If AI can suddenly do all of that, what does that mean for us?

At first, it felt like a threat. Like being replaced.

But then I started to think about it differently.

What if AI could take over the parts of work I don’t actually want to do? The admin, the endless emails, the repetitive small tasks that drain energy. What if it could free up more of my time to do the things I actually enjoy — creating, coaching, reflecting, writing?

That shift changed everything.

Because the truth is, as AI becomes more prevalent in our lives, I don’t think we’ll crave more polish or more perfection. We’ll already be surrounded by that. What we’ll crave is what’s real. What’s human. What’s unpolished.

We’ll gravitate toward people who tell real stories. Who share their values openly. Who aren’t afraid to show their flaws.

That’s the kind of creator I want to be. Not the polished avatar version. The human one.

Play as the New Productivity

One phrase kept echoing in my head as I listened to all of this: play.

There was a session on “vibe coding” — creating tools and apps through natural language. No lines of code. Just ideas turned into working prototypes in hours.

That idea lit something up in me. Because it reminded me of something I’ve felt for years: the highest form of productivity isn’t effort-heavy, it’s playful.

And the possibilities aren’t just for big companies. They’re for all of us. Imagine building simple tools that actually make your life better. A decision journal that spots your patterns. A tracker that helps you see where your time really goes. A learning buddy for a new skill. Even small reminders that nudge you toward gratitude or presence.

You can let your ideas run wild — and AI can turn them into something real within minutes. Some of those creations might solve real problems. Others might just be fun experiments you share with friends. Both are valuable.

That’s the kind of creativity I want to bring into my work and my life.

Not because it’s strategic, but because it feels alive. Because it brings me back to the joy of creating.

The Bigger Question

Walking out of the event, I wasn’t thinking about software or prompts. I was thinking about myself.

For years I’ve built things the hard way. I’ve found ways to get results with discipline, consistency, effort. And while those traits will always matter, I can see now that a new chapter is opening.

One where creativity, play, and vision matter more than grind. One where the people who thrive won’t be those who outsource their thinking to AI, but those who use it to expand their thinking.

And that leaves me with a question I can’t shake:

Am I willing to let go of the old way of working, and step into this new one with curiosity?

Because the future isn’t waiting. It’s already here.

And maybe the real challenge is learning how to meet it — not with fear, but with imagination.

Adam