Thinking in Prompts: Six Ways AI Is Changing My Brain
The Balance of AI in Work and Life
Alumni Ventures CEO, Mike Collins, reflects on how integrating AI into his life and work has reshaped his thinking and productivity, from adopting a prompt-based mindset to relying on AI for decision-making and learning. While AI offers efficiency and precision, he recognizes the importance of balancing it with human creativity, empathy, and collaboration to avoid over-reliance on technology.
My wife caught me doing it again at dinner last night. “Are you seriously trying to prompt me right now?” she asked, giving me a disapproving look.
She was responding to a question I’d posed about some recent bathroom remodeling hurdles. “Given your challenges with Kevin, what are three potential approaches to improve the relationship while maintaining professional boundaries?”
She’s right. I’ve become a prompt-thinking machine. As a CEO and early adopter, I’ve gone all in on AI. I’ve even set my calendar to remind me daily: “Don’t get replaced by AI today … or by someone better at AI than you.”
After a year of integrating AI into nearly every corner of my life, something fascinating has happened: AI isn’t just changing what I can do — it’s rewiring how I think. I’ve noticed my brain evolving, and it’s equal parts amazing, alarming, and amusing.
The human brain still holds many mysteries, but our understanding is advancing quickly. Interestingly, as we study how AI brains work, we’re discovering surprising similarities to our own. A recent paper on the geometry of “ideas” in humans and LLMs illustrates this beautifully. It makes me wonder: Are we co-evolving with AI?
For this blog, I looked back on my own AI rewiring process to better answer these questions: How is AI changing my work habits and perspective? And how well am I adapting to this process?
A Shift to Prompt Engineering
My brain now operates as if it’s perpetually crafting prompts. At times, this is highly effective; at others, it feels unsettling.
For example, while watching a Bears-Packers game at Soldier Field, instead of simply cheering, I found myself mentally drafting: “Given the current field position and weather conditions, generate an optimal strategy for third-and-15.” When the actual play (a receiver handoff that went nowhere) flopped, I thought, “AI could’ve done better.”
This prompt-based thinking is reshaping how I work. After reviewing a vague marketing plan from a teammate, I recently wrote: “Considering our current market position, available resources, and customer feedback, propose three actionable initiatives that leverage our strengths.” The response was impressively clear. was this based on AI use or just you?
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What I Like and Don’t Like
I love how prompt-based thinking clarifies goals and makes my work more efficient. It breaks complex tasks into manageable steps. However, it can feel rigid, stifling spontaneous creativity and making my thoughts seem mechanical. - Home
What I’m Doing About It
To balance this, I dedicate time to unstructured brainstorming and creative activities like journaling without prompts. My wife and I do a “No Tech Tuesday,” where I spend my entire evening unplugged — refreshing.
Reliance on Learning and Decision Making
AI has transformed how I learn and make decisions. Whether absorbing new material or tackling challenges, my first instinct is to partner with AI tools for support. I use them to summarize, analyze, brainstorm solutions, and provide recommendations. While this accelerates the process, it shifts my cognitive muscles. How is it netting out? I think to the strong positive, but I’m not 100% sure.
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What I Like and Don’t Like
AI makes learning and decision-making incredibly efficient. It opens doors to new insights and reduces time spent wrestling with ambiguity. However, I wonder if this new partnership has dulled some of my independent problem-solving skills. I sometimes default to AI instead of combining it with my reasoning or creativity. - Home
What I’m Doing About It
I’m intentionally setting limits. For example, I tackle problems independently and then compare my thoughts with AI suggestions. I also practice active learning techniques, like writing summaries or teaching concepts, to ensure I’m not just outsourcing the heavy lifting to a machine.
AI-Powered Systems Around Non-AI Powered Bandwidth
One unexpected challenge of working with an AI-driven mindset is navigating the differences in bandwidth between systems and people at different stages of their AI journey. AI and AI-enhanced people thrive on speed, scale, and precision, but the humans and processes they interact with often can’t keep up. This disparity creates friction, especially when the boss is ahead of the pack.
Whether colleagues feel overwhelmed by rapid iterations or organizational systems, or struggle to adapt to AI-accelerated workflows, gaps in speed and bandwidth often lead to bottlenecks and frustration. As a result, I’m constantly calibrating — pushing the potential of AI to deliver without overwhelming those around it.
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What I Like and Don’t Like
I value how AI can supercharge my productivity and clarity, but it can inadvertently put pressure on others who aren’t operating at the same pace. This imbalance can make teamwork more challenging and requires extra effort to ensure collaboration doesn’t suffer. - Home
What I’m Doing About It
I focus on bridging the gap. This means deliberately communicating AI-driven outputs — simplifying them when necessary and offering context to teammates. I also advocate for tools and training to help others feel empowered, not intimidated, by working alongside AI.
Precision in Thinking and Structure
AI has taught me that input quality determines output quality. If I want clear, actionable results, I need to put just as much effort into crafting the perfect input. This lesson has heightened my attention to detail, led to much better writing, and forced me to approach problems with a rigor that ensures every variable is considered.
For instance, when drafting a strategic brief, I break down every goal, constraint, and parameter before I start. This ensures that the final product reflects both the nuance and complexity of the problem. While this mindset has improved the quality of my work, it has also raised the stakes: I can’t afford sloppy thinking.
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What I Like and Don’t Like
The focus on precision and structure leads to better outcomes and fewer mistakes. It also helps me communicate more effectively with AI and my team. However, this level of rigor can sometimes feel exhausting, especially when tackling simpler tasks. - Home
What I’m Doing About It
In lower-stakes situations, I prioritize clarity over perfection to balance the need for quality with efficiency. I also schedule time to step back and review complex inputs, ensuring I haven’t overengineered them. I’m pushing prioritization discussions and plans harder. Focusing on what matters most allows me to maintain high standards without getting bogged down.
Rediscovering Human Strengths
AI has heightened my appreciation for the uniquely human qualities that machines can’t replicate. Empathy, sensory experiences, and the ability to connect in the beautiful chaos of being human stand out as irreplaceable strengths.
For example, AI may help draft the perfect email, but it can’t sit across from someone and read the subtle shifts in their body language or the emotion behind their words. It doesn’t experience the joy of a shared laugh or the bittersweetness of a hug goodbye. It’s in the messy, unscripted moments that humanity thrives.
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What I Like and Don’t Like
I value the reminder that some things are better left untouched by algorithms. Empathy, creativity born from imperfection, and the deep satisfaction of being present with others aren’t just skills — they’re the essence of who we are. However, this perspective also highlights the risk of overrelying on AI and losing sight of the personal connections that make life meaningful. I think the future depends on combining the best of humans and machines. At my firm, Alumni Ventures, we talk a lot about having machines do what they do best so we can do what we do best. - Home
What I’m Doing About It
I’m prioritizing face-to-face time with colleagues, friends, and family — messy, spontaneous, and real moments. Whether it’s a dinner with loved ones or a brainstorming session with the team, I’m finding joy in the unpredictability. It is one reason I’m such a big fan of a lot of in-office time and retreats among teammates. I also remind myself to step away from technology periodically, tuning in to the rich tapestry of human emotions and senses.
Human-AI Collaboration: Enhancing Productivity Together
AI works best as a complement to human oversight and strategic thinking. Alone, AI offers speed and scale, but when paired with human insight, its outputs can be contextualized, refined, and even challenged to create superior results.
For example, while AI excels at generating ideas, it requires a human touch to evaluate feasibility, adapt them to real-world constraints, and ensure they align with broader goals. This collaboration amplifies productivity and highlights the indispensable role of human judgment.
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What I Like and Don’t Like
I appreciate how AI handles repetitive tasks and generates diverse solutions, freeing me to focus on higher-order thinking. However, this symbiosis depends heavily on clear communication and thoughtful oversight — both of which require time and energy. - Home
What I’m Doing About It
I’m building systems where AI acts as a powerful assistant rather than an autonomous decision-maker. This involves treating AI outputs as starting points, not endpoints, and training my team to engage with AI critically rather than passively.
Final Thoughts
AI is a remarkable tool that enhances efficiency and expands our capabilities. But as we integrate it into our lives, it’s critical to recognize and nurture the human qualities that make us irreplaceable. Balancing precision with empathy, structure with creativity, and algorithms with human messiness ensures that AI complements — not replaces — what it means to be human.
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