Disrupt Consciousness

Een Handleiding voor MKB’s om AI te Gebruiken voor Strategische Optimalisatie en Concurrentievoordeel

Samenvatting

Stel je voor dat je MKB-bedrijf worstelt met verborgen knelpunten die groei remmen, terwijl concurrenten met AI-tools als een raket vooruit schieten. In mijn vorige essay benadrukte ik het belang van klein beginnen met AI om inertie te doorbreken: richt een AI Lab op, experimenteer bottom-up met tools in verschillende afdelingen, organiseer hackathons geleid door business developers, en elimineer bureaucratische barrières. Dit essay bouwt daarop voort en focust op de AI Lab-fase – een periode van ongeveer drie maanden waarin alle...

Summary

Imagine your small business humming along, only to get blindsided by three tech nerds in a garage who’ve cobbled together an AI that’s stealing your customers faster than you can say "chatbot." That’s the AI revolution, folks, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are stuck in the mud of inertia—think Blockbuster giggling at Netflix’s mail-order DVDs while the streaming tsunami loomed. Big shots like Amazon and Spotify dodge this with their slick, nimble setups, but most SMEs? They’re more like a family reunion gone wrong—chaotic, no clear boss, and everyone’s got...

Imagine the scene: a morning at Apple’s design studio. Not a boardroom, but a breakfast table. Jony Ive and his team gather not to pitch or perform, but simply to be together. This wasn’t corporate culture. It was ritual. Trust. A shared meal as sacred as any sketch or prototype.

This is how Ive worked. Not in isolation, but in communion. Not in pursuit of profit, but of meaning.

And now, he’s working with Sam Altman.

Design as Devotion

For Jony Ive, design is not decoration. It’s devotion...

Summary

In the heart of San Francisco, engineers chase the dream of artificial general intelligence (AGI), driven by the San Francisco Thesis—a mindset prioritizing rapid innovation toward superintelligence that outstrips human cognition. This article explores the global race for AI supremacy, contrasting the Bay Area’s bold vision with pragmatic and regulatory approaches worldwide. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt warns that the first to build superintelligent AI—potentially by 2027—will shape global norms, urging democracies to lead or risk authoritarian dominance. Meanwhile, public caution in the U.S. (60% favor slowing AI, per Axios 2025), China’s state-driven AI push, a...

Why does AI seem conscious? Society often reduces humans to logic, mirroring AI’s capabilities, but we are far more—emotions, intuition, and spirit define us. While AI lacks consciousness, it can free us from mundane tasks, as research on mindfulness apps shows improved well-being. Philosophers like David Chalmers highlight consciousness’s mystery, and Carl Jung urges exploring the unconscious. Steve Wozniak warns that limiting ourselves to logic risks AI dominance. By using AI as a mirror, we can explore our profound consciousness, ensuring technology serves our deeper humanity.

In the quiet of a Vipassana retreat, where breath...

I once spent an afternoon folding laundry. No music, no podcast, just me and an endless pile of clothes. In another scenario, this chore might have felt oppressive, trapped within the ticking hands of a clock. Yet, on this particular day, free from urgency, the mundane became meditative, and folding shirts transformed into an act of playful freedom.

Martin Heidegger—philosopher, existentialist, and surprisingly, avid skier—would understand. Heidegger once described our modern condition as Seinsvergessenheit, or "forgetfulness of being," a state where we lose touch with our intrinsic sense of existence, caught up in daily distractions and...

Introduction

Europe today is a continent wrestling with bureaucratic inertia and sluggish innovation, where even a visionary report like Mario Draghi’s September 2024 proposal on European competitiveness risks being buried under layers of red tape or diluted by bureaucratic mismanagement. Simultaneously, the continent’s long-standing reliance on U.S. leadership through NATO for defense—especially precarious with the looming possibility of a Trump presidency—has exposed a critical vulnerability. Yet, amid these challenges lies a silver lining: Europe’s unparalleled cultural heritage—its 500+ UNESCO World Heritage sites, historic cities, museums, and centuries-old traditions—offers a unique opportunity in an AI-domin...

Episode Title: The AI Paradox: Leash or Ladder?

Description: An AI-generated conversation, created with Notebook LM, delves into the AI paradox: is it a leash controlling us or a ladder to enlightenment? Inspired by Roel Smelt's essay, this episode offers a unique perspective on how AI can be harnessed for personal growth and enlightenment.

Featuring: A conversation generated by AI (Notebook LM)

Key Points:

AI's potential to both control and empower

Jack Dorsey's concerns about algorithmic influence

Roel Smelt's vision of AI as a tool for enlightenment<...

The essay argues that reducing human consciousness to mere computation, as some AI research suggests, is a dangerous oversimplification. It emphasizes the crucial role of emotion, creativity, and subjective experience in human consciousness, contrasting these uniquely human qualities with the logical processes that AI systems can replicate. The author warns against granting AI the same status as humans based solely on computational abilities, highlighting the ethical implications of such a classification. By referencing various experts, the piece underscores the importance of recognizing the irreplaceable richness of human experience and the dangers of neglecting its non-computational aspects in our pursuit...

Summary: “Between the Algorithm and the Abyss: A Manifesto for the Unautomated Soul”

As technology advances, we risk trading humanity’s richness for convenience, efficiency, and perfection. This essay explores the delicate balance between embracing innovation and protecting what makes us human: our irrationality, creativity, and soul.

It warns of the modern “soma” we consume—tools and algorithms that numb us to longing, wonder, and struggle. Instead of letting machines dominate, we must engage with technology joyfully yet critically, ensuring it serves us without dulling our capacity for meaning and connection.

Key takeaways:

1. Stru...

The text analyzes the evolution of sociopolitical ideologies, tracing a path from the 1960s counterculture movement through the rise of "woke culture" to a contemporary resurgence of libertarian thought. It explores generational perspectives on these shifts, highlighting how different age groups view authority, social responsibility, and the role of government. The author emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness and dialogue in navigating this complex ideological landscape, suggesting that progress stems from engagement and synthesis rather than adherence to rigid orthodoxy. The piece ultimately advocates for critical thinking and a willingness to consider diverse viewpoints in shaping the future of society.<...

1. Introduction

Societies often shift dramatically when pre-existing social and political arrangements can no longer accommodate technological advances and changing values. We live in such a time. Against a backdrop of political polarization and rapid technological breakthroughs, scholars, investors, and futurists alike argue we are on the threshold of profound upheaval—one that will reshape not only our economies, but the very essence of how we govern and who leads us.

George Friedman, a geopolitical forecaster and founder of the intelligence platform Stratfor, provides a structured way to understand these transformative periods by pointing to two ov...

The article argues that the climate crisis is not an insurmountable challenge but a solvable problem due to rapidly advancing technologies like renewable energy, precision fermentation, and autonomous vehicles. The author criticizes linear thinking, which fails to grasp the transformative potential of exponential growth, hindering the adoption of these solutions. By embracing exponential thinking, the author believes we can accelerate progress toward a sustainable and prosperous future.

In Aldous Huxley’s novel Island, the utopian society of Pala trains mynah birds to recite phrases like “Here and now” as gentle reminders for inhabitants to return to the present moment. These birds, flitting through the verdant landscapes, symbolize the community’s commitment to mindfulness and presence. The Palanese understand that true peace and harmony arise when individuals fully engage with the present, free from the distractions of past regrets and future anxieties.

In our rapidly evolving world, characterized by technological advancements and constant connectivity, the wisdom of Pala’s mynah birds resonates more than ever. We are sur...

Imagine a world where artificial intelligence doesn’t merely execute tasks but understands and empathizes with human emotions and complexities. This vision is not just a staple of science fiction but a tangible frontier influenced by rapid technological advancements. Tony Seba’s concept of S-curves highlights how disruptive innovations can transform industries and societies. We are now witnessing AI’s S-curve as it begins to reshape the very fabric of our daily lives. This essay explores the intricate dance between AI and human consciousness, examining how we can harmonize technological prowess with the essence of what it means to be hum...

Podcast Title:

The Present Moment Is Where Bias Will Vanish

Episode Title:

Escaping the Hallucination: How Real-Time Testing Shatters Bias and Unites Us

Show Notes:

In this thought-provoking episode, we dive deep into how biases shape our worldview and how the present moment holds the key to dissolving them. We begin by exploring the scientific method, breaking down why even the most rigorous processes are vulnerable to bias when relying on past data. But what happens when we anchor ourselves in real-time testing...

This article examines the concept of creativity and its relationship to both humans and artificial intelligence (AI). The author, Roel Smelt, argues that while AI can generate seemingly creative outputs like art and music, it lacks the emotional depth, subjective experience, and "Eureka" moments that characterize true human creativity. He emphasizes that human consciousness, with its capacity for intuition, personal interpretation, and emotional expression, plays a crucial role in the creative process. Smelt concludes that, despite AI's advancements, the spark of inspiration and the unique qualities of human creativity remain distinct and irreplaceable.

The Encounter

In a quiet café nestled in a bustling city, a young AI researcher named Alex sat across from Dr. Maria Sanchez, a seasoned philosopher. They were deep in conversation about the future of artificial intelligence. Alex, eyes gleaming with excitement, said, "Imagine an AI that can solve all our problems—a true oracle of truth."

Dr. Sanchez sipped her coffee thoughtfully. "But what would be its ultimate goal?" she asked. "And more importantly, what does that mean for us as humans?"

Alex paused. "Isn't the pursuit of truth enough?"

Dr...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit roelsmelt.substack.com

Episode Summary:

Join us as we dive into one of the most profound questions of our time: is consciousness a fundamental reality unique to living beings, or merely an emergent property of mind and matter? Through an engaging narrative featuring Sophia and an AI named Elias, we explore the philosophical clash between human experience and artificial intelligence. We discuss perspectives from quantum pioneers like Max Planck and Erwin Schrödinger, as well as modern thinkers like Daniel Dennett and G...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit roelsmelt.substack.com

Elon Musk, ever the visionary, recently linked the future of energy to humanity's cosmic ambitions, stating that "essentially all energy generation will be solar" once you grasp the Kardashev Scale. This scale, proposed by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev in 1964, measures a civilization's technological advancement based on its ability to harness ene…

The iconic canals of Amsterdam, once teeming with a cacophony of bicycles, trams, and the occasional sputtering car, paint a drastically different picture in 2035. Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, legalized a decade prior, has ushered in an era of unprecedented transformation, reshaping the city's mobility landscape and redefining urban living.

From Congestion to Connectivity: Amsterdam's Transportation Evolution

Prior to the FSD revolution, Amsterdam's streets were a microcosm of the challenges facing many modern cities. The city's love affair with bicycles, while environmentally friendly, resulted in overcrowded bike lanes and frequent accidents [1]. The tram network, though extensive...

The conversation about this article has been created with Notebook LM by Google.

Summary

The German car industry is on the brink of collapse. Massive layoffs loom, technological advancements have left it behind, and incremental changes are no longer enough. This article delves into the heart of the crisis, unveils the sole dilemma threatening the industry’s survival, and presents a bold, almost unthinkable solution: a radical partnership with Tesla. We explore how this alliance could be realized, who should lead the charge, and confront the emotional barriers standing in the way. Finally, we contrast th...

Podcast Title: Disrupt Consciousness

Episode Title: The Power Paradox: Unlocking the Netherlands’ Energy Potential

Guest: Roel Smelt, Philosopher of Technology and Humanity

Episode Overview:

In this episode of Disrupt Consciousness, host Jacks sits down with Roel Smelt to discuss his latest article, The Power Paradox: How the Netherlands Is Missing Out on Energy Abundance. Together, they explore the challenges facing the Dutch energy grid, outdated policies that hinder battery adoption, and the potential for battery technology to unlock energy abundance, prosperity, and societal transformation.

Through comparison with Ge...

Host: Roel Smelt, Philosopher of Technology and Humanity

Episode Title: Humanoid Robots Are Coming: Will We Awaken Our Consciousness or Numb Ourselves into a Digital Dystopia?

Overview:

In this episode, Roel explores the imminent disruption humanoid robots will bring, reshaping our concept of labor, freedom, and prosperity. Drawing parallels to 1984 and Wall-E, Roel poses a crucial question: Will we choose passive entertainment, or will we use this newfound time to evolve our consciousness and seek deeper meaning?

Key Topics:

• Tony Seba’s “We Are the Horses...

Embracing Disruption: How Tony Seba’s Vision Is Shaping a Prosperous and Enlightened Future In this episode of 'Disruption Unleashed,' host Roel explores the transformative power of exponential technologies and how they are reshaping our world. Roel delves into the three phases of technological disruption, inspired by Tony Seba’s visionary ideas, and explains how these disruptions are ushering in a new era of prosperity, freedom, and enlightenment for humanity. The Three Phases of Disruption The Ignorance Phase: Fear, Resistance, and Linear Thinking The Embracing Phase: Innovators and Entrepreneurs Lead the Charge The Transformation Phase: A Better, More Enli...