Charting our path in the age of AI
Rising above a world of illusions
On a quiet Sunday morning, I step outside for my long run, headphones on, and press play. Queen’s iconic question fills the air: Is this the real life, or is this just a fantasy?
French philosopher Jean Baudrillard wrote about the precession of simulacra—a world where symbols no longer represent reality but instead reference other symbols. In his view, these symbols create a "hyperreality," where what we perceive as real is merely a constructed illusion. For example, advertising doesn’t just sell products; it sells lifestyles, aspirations, and ideas disconnected from the product itself.
Companies often talk about “innovation,” but it frequently serves as a facade to mask stagnation or superficial changes. Similarly, individuals curate online personas, chasing likes and validation that have little connection to their true selves. In both cases, symbols replace substance, leaving us navigating a world of reflections with little grounding in authenticity. We’ve traded genuine meaning for surface-level signals—maps that chart the terrain without ever "touching grass." This hyperreality defines much of modern life. Yet, just as the Renaissance shattered medieval norms, the Nova Renaissance gives us tools to rediscover reality.
It may sound paradoxical: we create artificial intelligence, and in doing so, it leads us back to what’s real—wouldn’t that be a great joke.
Roasting the simulacra
Baudrillard warned of simulacra—symbols that replace reality itself. Over time, objects lose their intrinsic value, becoming hollow simulations.
The idea of “roasting” is about exposing the gap between symbols and their realities. For instance, a corporate mission statement might sound visionary, but does it lead to meaningful action? An AI strategy might impress in a presentation, but does it deliver real value?
Today, work often prioritizes appearances over purpose. Polished business cards and corporate dinners mask the erosion of genuine human experience. Stripped of its original purpose—to create for its own sake—work becomes a hollow performance.
Building a new map
To create something meaningful, we must confront - roast - the illusions we’ve built. For companies, this means addressing skill gaps, misaligned values, and surface-level changes that lack substance. For individuals, it means questioning whether our goals are truly our own or shaped by external pressures.
The observer effect reminds us that the very act of observing something alters its outcome. Symbols, like performance metrics or engagement statistics, exemplify this by creating an illusion of progress that often disconnects from true value. By challenging surface-level indicators, we can engage with what is real and begin to rebuild - rise - on a new foundation.
It’s not about growth—It’s about transition
Technology is breaking open the realities we’ve constructed. If machines can replicate intellect, surpass problem-solving, and mimic creativity, what remains uniquely human?
Our age glorifies growth, but this pursuit often traps us in illusions rather than fostering true understanding. The challenge isn’t endless growth but transitioning toward a future defined by integrity and curiosity.
Your sense of self isn’t tied to rare skills. The ladders you’ve climbed were never permanent. As intelligence becomes ubiquitous and exclusivity dissolves, the illusions propping up institutions will crumble. When knowledge loses its scarcity, we will redefine value.
This shift—from supply-and-demand metrics to authenticity, resilience, and creativity—offers a chance to build something new.
My first post ended with the phrase, “buckle up.” For what? For a future where intelligence saturates every facet of life. This transition demands we confront how technology reshapes our realities. It’s a call to action—to rise with authenticity and resilience in the face of profound change. Intelligence will be everywhere and nowhere, embedded in everything. You’ll no longer be the smartest person in the room. Intellect itself will become a trap.
What remains sacred is the raw, unmediated experience of being. The ultimate question becomes: if we strip away all signs, layers, and constructs—what remains?
If you can’t face the most fundamental fact of your own existence, what can you face?
Happy holidays.
The simulacra framing is perfect for what we're seeing with founders right now—they're optimizing for "AI readiness" as a symbol rather than solving actual customer problems that AI enables. I've watched dozens of $5-20M companies bolt on AI features that nobody asked for, then wonder why retention didn't budge.