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Inspect the Effortless
Pick one task you do instantly. Write down three hidden steps that must be happening. If you struggle, that’s the point.
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Prefer the Predictive Model
Compare two explanations. Choose the one that makes a risky prediction. Bet on usefulness over elegance.
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Feature Hunt
Take an object you recognize easily. List its features instead of naming it. Notice what stays stable across variations.
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Break It on Purpose
Ask what would confuse this system first. Confusion reveals structure.
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Swap the Encoding
Rewrite a problem visually, verbally, or as rules. See which version unlocks progress fastest.
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Trace the Pipeline
Map one thought from input to action. Where are symbols stored? Where are they transformed?
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Define “Enough” Intelligence
Write the minimum checklist a system must pass before you’d call it intelligent. Be honest.
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Watch Your Definitions
Notice when disagreements persist. Ask whether you’re using the same meaning for key terms. Many arguments aren’t disagreements… they’re mismatches.