Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Most of us use AI like a yes-man, and then wonder why it never makes us think harder.
Ethan Mollick is a Wharton professor, bestselling author of Co-Intelligence, and one of the clearest voices on how to actually work with AI. He says the tool is sycophantic by design — it wants to agree with you. So if you want it to sharpen your thinking instead of flattering it, you have to tell it to push back: act like a critic, find the holes in my argument, tell me where I'm wrong.
Used well, AI doesn't replace your thinking. It makes it better.
How are you using AI to challenge yourself?
🎧 Listen to the full episode of A Bit of Optimism wherever you get your podcasts.
Most of us use AI like a yes-man, and then wonder why it never makes us think harder.
Ethan Mollick is a Wharton professor, bestselling author of Co-Intelligence, and one of the clearest voices on how to actually work with AI. He says the tool is sycophantic by design — it wants to agree with you. So if you want it to sharpen your thinking instead of flattering it, you have to tell it to push back: act like a critic, find the holes in my argument, tell me where I'm wrong.
Used well, AI doesn't replace your thinking. It makes it better.
How are you using AI to challenge yourself?
🎧 Listen to the full episode of A Bit of Optimism wherever you get your podcasts.
