Consuming information Fast and Slow….
After working extensively with AI agents over the past two weeks, I've noticed two patterns for consuming and dealing with information.
The first is “fast”, to just bridge some knowledge gaps; the second is “slow”, to allow my brain to rewire.
When I need a specific, real-time answer to clarify a detail, resolve an issue, or gain a high-level overview, I ask AI to summarise and highlight the essentials. That's very efficient and direct. AI is the king here.
Conversely, when I want to deeply internalise certain ideas and allow my brain to be rewired, I must interact with the content slowly. This is a fundamentally different approach. Engaging with a book or a long podcast is like inviting another person’s perspective to interact with your neural network. We are the sum of people, books, movies, cities, and environments we encounter; they all shape our “mindscapes”. Therefore, to cultivate taste, authenticity, and your identity, slow consumption is essential.
A recent example: I was reading a book where the author briefly referenced the myth of Aphrodite and her dual identity. The author likely assumed his readers are all highly educated and cultured. Not being in this category, I turned to AI to quickly bridge the gap. I didn’t need a deep academic analysis of Greek mythology; I simply needed a targeted piece of information to continue with the text.
However, I would never ask AI to summarise the book itself. I am not reading it for mere information, but to allow my brain to encounter and interact with the author’s unique way of thinking and worldview.
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