AI is a Bicycle for the Mind
In a recent episode of The AI Daily Brief, host Nathaniel Whittemore referenced a concept from a 1973 Scientific American article titled, “Energy and Power in Animals” by S.S. Wilson.
The article ranked animals based on how efficiently they move, using a measurement of calories per gram per kilometer. The condor topped the list as the most energy-efficient animal. Humans landed somewhere in the middle, not particularly efficient walkers or runners. But when a human on a bicycle was added, the game changed. The bicyclist outperformed every animal, becoming the most efficient creature on the chart.
Steve Jobs clearly liked this study and often pointed to this finding. He said, “The condor took the top spot for efficiency, but then someone measured the efficiency of a human on a bicycle and blew the condor away.”
That’s exactly how I see AI today. (And this was Nathan Whitmore's point, not my original thought.)
AI is a bicycle for the mind. It’s not a threat, it’s a tool. One that amplifies human ability, just like the bicycle did for physical movement. Used well, it helps us think faster, create more, and reach further.
As more people use AI (like ChatGPT, Claude, or Grok) to search instead of browsers, the way we show up online is changing fast.
When I first asked ChatGPT who the best real estate firm was to sell a home in our home town, my brokerage, Ridgeline Real Estate, didn’t even make the list. Embarassing!
One week later, we were number two thanks to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization). I was shocked at how fast and effectively we were able to influence our search results. One very AI-assisted week's worth of work made that happen.
Want to know how? It’s a bit complex, so I created an entire class about it inside the RAIN membership - AEO/GEO and Why It Matters.
If you're a little bit of a nut like me, and you think that this stuff is going to be a giant disruptor for our industry and businesses in general, then you’'ll want to join the RAIN membership!
Inside RAIN you get what actually moves your business forward with AI. Our Storm Sessions are at the center, where we build and apply workflows together so they become part of how you work now. You’ll stay current on the tools that matter, build essential skills, and access a growing library of prompts and AI assistants built for real estate. Click here to learn more!