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The most common email messages I receive these days are obviously AI-generated pitches for guests to appear on my podcast. They all begin the same way, with a praising reference to one of my recent episodesusually the second-to-last posted show. Your recent interview with so-and-so was penetrating, and got to the heart of the problem of x or y. Then comes the crucial pivot: John Doughs work takes that problem even further . . . And then the pitch for John Dough to be on the podcast. The problem is not just that the publicist used AI to shotgun the known universe of podcasters with pitches artificially customized to their shows. Its that the comparisons and connections are really bad. Your guest spoke so passionately about being a death doula, I think you would be so interested in an artist who makes Halloween napkins festooned with skeletons, which are usually of dead people. So what do I do? I blacklist the sender. The human publicist ends up losing credibility because the one thing I might trust her to doto accurately assess the appropriateness of my show for her guesthad been surrendered to a machine whose job was to make that connection by any means necessary. {"blockType":"mv-promo-block","data":{"imageDesktopUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/10\/adus-labs-16x9-1.png","imageMobileUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/10\/anduslabs.png","eyebrow":"","headline":"Get more insights from Douglas Rushkoff and Andus Labs.","dek":"Keep up to date on the latest trends on how AI is reshaping culture and business, through the critical lens of human agency.","ctaText":"Learn More","ctaUrl":"https:\/\/www.anduslabs.com\/perspectives","theme":{"bg":"#1a064b","text":"#ffffff","eyebrow":"#9aa2aa","buttonBg":"#ffffff","buttonText":"#000000"},"imageDesktopId":91420531,"imageMobileId":91420530}} She was using AI in the fashion of an Industrial Age factory owner to increase her productivity, but simultaneously ignoring the human process that defines her expertise. I see the same thing happen with AI-generated reports and presentations. Someone gets some speculative idea and then asks Chat to justify it with a few case studies. On the surface, the case studies may sound like theyre supporting the premisebut if you look any deeper, they dont really relate at all. Theyre analogous, but not truly relevant. Worse yet, theyre sitting in what looks like a fully realized Powerpoint presentation. Concepts that could have been interpreted as half-baked, speculative, or open to discussion now appear finalized. They seem inappropriately unrealized for how elaborately they have been rendered, and make the presenter seem foolish. (That is, if the recipient is even reading the work rather than having their AI summarize it.) Deskilling ourselves By using the AI to do the big stuffby outsourcing our primary competencies to the machines instead of giving them the boring busyworkwe deskill ourselves and deprive everyone of the opportunity for AI-enhanced outputs. Too many of us are using AI as the primary architect for a project, rather than the general contractor who supports the architects human vision. (And even many of the general contractors functions are attributable to the human relationships they have developed over the years.) People are treating their chats as if they were fully realized (but as yet nonexistent) AGIs, and letting them do big stuff rather than treating them like tools that can do lots of little stuff. When facing a new seemingly gargantuan project, they turn to the AI first rather than digging in and doing some researchperhaps even using the AI as a research tool instead of relegating the whole project to it all at once. The output looks good to the user, less because it is good than because the Chat has been programmed to make the user feel good about their query. Thats an insightful project idea, Douglas! Ive managed to flesh out an entire proposal at three different price points. The positive feedback loop reinforces the user behavior, until the threshold for asking the Chat to do the project is lower and lower. In the name of getting more product out there, the user loses touch with their own processtheir core competency. No shortcuts The only ones who win in such a scenario are the AI companies, who effectively commoditize the users and their companies. Without any core competencies, the only competitive advantage a user has left is the robustness of their service contract with the AI company. The fast, slapdash results are not worth the cost in human expertise. As the researcher behind MITs study This is Your Brain on ChatGPT explained at a recent ANDUS event, when people turn to an AI for a solution before working on a problem themselves, the number of connections formed in their brains decreases. But when they turn to the AI after working on the problem for a while, they end up with more neural connections than if they worked entirely alone. Thats because the value of the AI is not its ability to create product for us, but to engage with us in our process. Working and iterating with an AIdoing what we could call generative thinkingis actually a break from Industrial Age thinking. We focus less on outputs than on cycles. Less on the volume of short-term results (assembly line), and more on the quality and complexity of thought and innovation. AIs dont have to replace our competencies or even our employees. Thats less an opportunity for success and scale than it is a recipe for deskilling, commodification, and eventual disappearance. Adopting AI as a partner in process and enhancer of competencies requires developing a new kind of culture around technology and innovationone that centers the human ingenuity at the core of a company, and supports the ways that new, intelligent technologies can foster that living resource. {"blockType":"mv-promo-block","data":{"imageDesktopUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/10\/adus-labs-16x9-1.png","imageMobileUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/10\/anduslabs.png","eyebrow":"","headline":"Get more insights from Douglas Rushkoff and Andus Labs.","dek":"Keep up to date on the latest trends on how AI is reshaping culture and business, through the critical lens of human agency.","ctaText":"Learn More","ctaUrl":"https:\/\/www.anduslabs.com\/perspectives","theme":{"bg":"#1a064b","text":"#ffffff","eyebrow":"#9aa2aa","buttonBg":"#ffffff","buttonText":"#000000"},"imageDesktopId":91420531,"imageMobileId":91420530}}
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A typical three-bedroom house in Austin, Texas, can sometimes rack up monthly utility bills of $200 or $300 in the summer. But in new homes under construction in a nearby suburb, residents will owe little beyond the basic utility connection fee. The homes, built by Habitat for Humanity, tap into a shared geothermal system in a fully geothermal neighborhood. Heat pumps in each house connect to pipes that loop hundreds of feet underground, making use of the earths steady temperature for heating and cooling. The houses are also built to use as little energy as possible, with features like deep eaves that shade the interior and reduce the need for air-conditioning. Solar shingles on the roofs produce enough power to match each homes expected electricity use. Our goal is to make sure that they have a very, very low energy bill at the end of the day, says Billy Whipple, chief impact officer at Habitat for Humanity’s Austin office. The nonprofit, known for working with volunteers to help lower the cost of construction, sees affordable housing holistically. Its not enough just to have a low monthly mortgage payment; homes also need to be designed to have low maintenance and utility costs, especially as energy bills keep rising. [Rendering: courtesy Austin Habitat for Humanity] A 100% geothermal neighborhood The houses are part of Whisper Valley, a larger development that was designed to rely on geothermal energy. This type of geothermal technology, also known as a ground-source heat pump, isn’t new. Habitat for Humanity has used the tech itself in other developments. But it’s still fairly uncommon because of the cost. Depending on the house, some systems can cost as much as $45,000. Building a connected network for the neighborhood, rather than adding the technology home by home, helps make it more affordable. EcoSmart Solution, a company that builds geothermal infrastructure, drills boreholes on each lot that connect to a larger energy system. “It allows us to implement the geothermal heating and cooling system at a fraction of the cost of doing it on a home-by-home basis,” says Chris Gray, EcoSmart’s CEO. “We bring it as a service. We do all of the drilling, all of the piping, all of the network connecting to each lot before the builders ever take over the lot.” Taurus Investment Holdings, the original developer behind the property, had a vision of making sustainability mainstream. “They were looking at what we can do to really create sustainability, but in an accessible, affordable way that can be approachable for the mass market,” Gray says. [Photo: EcoSmart Solution] The first homes began construction in 2017, and hundreds are now in place. Ultimately, the neighborhood is projected to have around 7,500 homes built by a variety of developers, along with businesses and around 700 acres of green space. Houses currently listed for sale range up to $465,000. Habitat for Humanity’s three-bedroom and four-bedroom homes, available for families earning 60% to 80% of the area median income, are much more affordable, at $230,000 to $245,000. (That’s also well below the average cost within the city of Austin, where the median sales price was around $575,000 last month.) The nonprofit budgeted around $33,000 per house to add the solar and geothermal systems, according to Whipple. Ultra-efficient homes To minimize energy use, Habitat’s homes are well-insulated with an extra-tight building envelope. “When [homeowners] heat and cool, they won’t have to do it as frequently,” Whipple says. The houses also use passive design techniques, like deep overhangs on the windows that provide shade on sweltering Texas days. Inside, the appliances are Energy Star certified. The homes also use LED lighting, smart thermostats, and heat pump water heaters. While it’s impossible to predict how much energy a particular family might useif they like to crank up the AC especially high, for examplethe size of the solar system installed on the roof was calculated to cover all typical usage. That obviously makes a difference for residents on tight budgets. Skyler Korgel, one future resident who will be a first-time homeowner, says that she currently pays between $35 and $70 a month on energy bills in her apartment. “Having that jump to $200 to $300 per month, or unpredictably more during the summers, in a traditional home would be financially unsustainable for me,” Korgel says. “Between the geothermal heating system, rooftop solar panels, smart energy management systems, high-efficiency appliances, and a tight building envelope, I am hopeful that I can reach energy usage of effectively zero, eliminate my energy bill for some months, and even be able to provide power when the electric grid is strained,” she says. A model for future development Habitat for Humanity is building 48 homes in the neighborhood, including 25 that will be constructed in October by volunteers in a five-day sprint. (Skilled construction workers are handling more complex tasks like connecting heat pumps to the geothermal system.) But it’s also considering using the solar-and-networked geothermal approach for future homes. That may include more houses at Whisper Valley. EcoSmart is working with other developers to plan new projects across the country, from single-famiy homes to multifamily buildings. Others are also turning to geothermal. In Brooklyn, for example, a 463-unit apartment building that recently opened uses hundreds of geothermal wells for heating and cooling. An even larger all-geothermal apartment complex is opening in another part of Brooklyn. In some cases, existing neighborhoods are also moving to geothermal. Near Boston, one neighborhood has been testing a shift from gas heat to geothermal heating and cooling over the last two years. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, the city is building a geothermal district system in a neighborhood where 75% of residents are low-incomeboth as part of the city’s work to reach climate goals and to help residents significantly cut energy bills.
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Its not always fun to look your finances in the eye, but it can unlock a rewarding path forward. These five books make tackling personal finance approachable, clear, anddare we say itan enjoyable journey. Rule Breaker Investing: How to Pick the Best Stocks of the Future and Build Lasting Wealth By David Gardner The real secret to building lasting wealth on the stock market is breaking the old investing rules. In Rule Breaker Investing, Motley Fool cofounder David Gardner teaches how to craft a purpose-driven portfolio, manage investments, and even master time management for a smarter, happier, richer investment journey. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author David Gardner, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness By Eric Jorgenson Naval Ravikant is a legendary investor, entrepreneur, and founder in Silicon Valley. Beyond his business acumen, he is known for the distilled wisdom that he shares on living a rich and meaningful life. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant compiles his most powerful ideas about achieving wealth and happiness. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Eric Jorgenson, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon. All the Presidents Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money By Megan Gorman The money dramas that plague us today are tales as old as time. We share all the same personal financial issues of the present with Americans of the pastincluding presidents. History is filled with relatable stories of money management (and mismanagement). How do your wealth-building skills compare to those of our nations presidents? Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Megan Gorman, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon. Robin Hood Math: Take Control of the Algorithms That Run Your Life By Noah Giansiracusa Robin Hood Math is a guide to navigating the algorithmic world we inhabit today. By understanding the numbers games influencing our experiences and opportunities, we can better resist their undue influence in shaping our lives. Math is a tool for empowerment. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Noah Giansiracusa, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon. The Wealth Ladder: Proven Strategies for Every Step of Your Financial Life By Nick Maggiulli The optimal wealth strategy varies based on your financial starting point. Depending on where you sit on the Wealth Ladder, the best approach to getting more money shifts. Its not necessarily about hard work but rather picking the correct place to focus your time and energy based on your current situation. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Nick Maggiulli, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon. This article originallyappeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.
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When I first ventured into self-employment a few years ago, I received a lot of advice from fellow freelance writers: Know your worth. Dont take low-paying work. The advice was valid, as too much low-paying work is a recipe for burnout. But to the newly self-employed, I would say: Know your worth. And also, there are very valid reasons to take low-paying work, if it can help launch your business. You can open the right doors without selling yourself short. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/04\/workbetter-logo.png","headline":"Work Better","description":"Thoughts on the future of work, career pivots, and why work shouldn't suck, by Anna Burgess Yang. To learn more visit workbetter.media.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.workbetter.media","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}} The project is good for your portfolio Potential clients will expect proof that your work is goodespecially if its the type of work that can be displayed in a portfolio (design, video, writing, or other creative work). Portfolios dont grow overnight. One good client at a lower rate will lead to a better client who pays more. Even now, several years into freelance writing, Ill still take projects below my normal rate if I think the work will be a standout in my portfolio. The payoff comes when clients approach me and say, I saw your work for XYZ companyI love that publication! Sometimes projects can earn you far more in the long run than your short-term payout. The project will connect you with important people Some of my best clients are referrals, even when the original project was low-paying, boring, or short-term. Ive even had clients rehire me when they move on to their next gig. Youll quickly learn which people in your industry are movers and shakers. By working with them, you could get a glowing recommendation or countless referrals. You can also say yes to speaking on panels, podcast appearances, and writing guest posts for publications if you feel like the work will get you in front of the right audience or make good industry connections. These are often a much lower lift than a full-blown paid project and can have a similar impact. You can learn new skills If you need it, heres your permission to say yes to a project thats slightly outside of your skill set. Slightly being the operative word. You need to be confident that you can meet the clients expectations. But its also an opportunity to try something new and get paid for the work. Dont ever, ever overpromise and under-deliver. However, sometimes the only way to gain new skills as a solo business owner is to take on the work, wow the client, and get the project into your portfolio so you can take on future projects that require the same skill set. Its OK to say no For many self-employed people, money is a primary factor in accepting projects. But just like there are valid reasons beyond money to take on new work, there are also valid reasons for declining workeven if the money is good. Bad clients can cost you. They can absorb too much of your time and mental energy. You may also reach a point in your business where you dont need the money, even if you have the bandwidth. One of the best things about running your own business is that you get to make those decisions. When you work for an employer, youre forced onto projects or stuck with colleagues youd rather avoid. Self-employment is different. Taking on clients is a business decisionand you should get comfortable basing your decisions on factors other than money. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/04\/workbetter-logo.png","headline":"Work Better","description":"Thoughts on the future of work, career pivots, and why work shouldn't suck, by Anna Burgess Yang. To learn more visit workbetter.media.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.workbetter.media","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}}
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Tell me: Do things like this ever happen to you? You have clarity of purpose. You know what you need. You walk into another room to get it. Then, distraction hits, and you forget entirely what prompted you. Or else, you search the house for your car keys or your glasses, or your wallet. A good 10 minutes later, you realize theyve been with you the whole time. You sit down to write an article about an intriguing study having to do with memoryif only you could remember what it was. Yes, these are highly personal anecdotes. But like all the best stories, I hope theyre simply the unique expression of universal truths. Perhaps second only to the fear of death itself, the one thing Ive heard business leaders admit that they fear most is the idea of losing their memory. And thats why Ive latched on with gusto to a recent study out of Harvard University, among other institutions, that suggests a simple, straightforward way to improve cognitive health. A Mediterranean-style diet Writing in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers from Mass General Brigham, the Broad Institute of MIT, and yes, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, say that making a simple dietary change can influence key metabolic pathways that protect memory and cognitive function. The strategy: Make a conscious change to switch to a Mediterranean-style diet. More on the nose, according to a summary: People following a more Mediterranean-style diet had a lower risk of developing dementia and showed slower cognitive decline. Theyre not the first to tout the benefits of this diet; heck, Ive written about other studies here before. But this team analyzed data from two studies, including a total of 5,705 men and women from two longitudinal studies: the Nurses Health Study, followed by the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. And, by studying three factors: long-term dietary patterns, participants inherited risk for Alzheimers disease, and the incidence of new cases of dementia, they were able to make some striking conclusions. Help reduce the risk According to the studys first author, Yuxi Liu, PhD, a research fellow in the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Womens Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, and a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard Chan School and Broad: These findings suggest that dietary strategies, specifically the Mediterranean diet, could help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and stave off dementia by broadly influencing key metabolic pathways. Before I forget (ironic, right?) we should ensure that weve established what a Mediterranean-style diet actually entails. It includes a few factors: First, the primary fat source is olive oil, as opposed to higher saturated fats that are sometimes seen in Western diets. Second, whole grains. Lots of them. Plus, vegetables and fruitsprobably four servings per day. Third, lean proteins. Think fish, chicken, turkey, and eggs. Fourth: Very limited red meat intake. Finally, lots of fiber from a variety of plant sources. My favorite kind of study Honestly, this makes it fall into the category of frankly quite pleasurable things I might do anyway, even without the study. Which therefore makes it my favorite kind of study. Short version? Do something Id normally do almost without prompting, and get an unexpected benefit? Im on board with that. Barely even need a reminder. Bill Murphy Jr. This article originally appeared on Fast Companys sister publication, Inc. Inc. is the voice of the American entrepreneur. We inspire, inform, and document the most fascinating people in business: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters that represent the most dynamic force in the American economy.
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