19 - The Human Edge w. Bethan Winn

Aug 21, 2025

In a riveting discussion, Bethan Winn, author of "The Human Edge" and corporate training expert, delves into critical thinking in the age of AI. She explores the balancing act between leveraging AI tools and preserving human creativity. Listeners will discover her insights on the writing journey, the concept of 'AI veganism,' and the collaborative potential of AI in creative processes. Bethan emphasizes the importance of questioning AI outputs and the need for personal judgment, making a compelling case for the human edge in an increasingly automated world.

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INSIGHT

Critical Thinking Is Now Essential

Critical thinking grows more essential as AI becomes ubiquitous and simplifies tasks.
Bethan Winn argues thinking skills must be taught broadly, not just in workshops.

ADVICE

Ask What's It For Before Using AI

Use AI deliberately and keep human judgment as the final arbiter of outcomes.
Ask "what's it for?" before outsourcing tasks to AI and refuse blind trust.

ADVICE

Treat AI As A Drafting Partner

Use AI as a conversational partner to iterate rather than as a final author.
Feed AI drafts, pick useful ideas, and rewrite so the output reflects your intent.

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The Good Stuff - Episode 19: The Human Edge

Hosts: Pete and Bethan Winn
Location: City Beach, Perth

Episode Overview: Pete hosts with special guest Bethan Winn, his wife and author of "The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI." They explore the intersection of human thinking and artificial intelligence, discussing when and how to use AI tools while maintaining human agency and creativity.

Book Link: The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI

Key Discussion Points:

Introduction and Book Launch (01:01-04:00)
Bethan discusses her motivation for writing "The Human Edge" making critical thinking training more accessible as AI becomes ubiquitous. Her five years of corporate training experience revealed growing need for critical thinking skills in the AI era.

The Writing Process (04:00-07:00)
First-time author experience, early morning writing sessions, and using dictation to capture ideas. The challenge of moving from workshops to written format with AI assistance.

AI as Cognitive Offloading (07:00-12:00)
Comparison to historical abstractions like GPS replacing map knowledge and software development layers. The "AI veganism" concept - consciously choosing when to use AI versus manual processes for different purposes.

Pete's AI Development Experiments (12:00-18:00)
Multi-agent conversations, facilitator roles, and panel discussions between different AI models. Discovery that AIs can generate genuinely new concepts through interaction, challenging assumptions about creativity.

Human vs AI Creativity (18:00-25:00)
Debate about manufactured music, authenticity, and the value of creative processes. Whether AI-generated content diminishes human artistic expression or simply changes the distribution landscape.

Critical Thinking in Practice (25:00-32:00)
Using AI conversationally to challenge thinking rather than replace it. The book's focus on structured conversations and frameworks for better decision-making.

The Value of Difficulty (32:00-40:00)
Importance of uncomfortable experiences for growth. Pete's development of mobile AI tools that enable work while walking, maintaining human movement and reflection.

Knowledge Democratization (40:00-48:00)
How AI breaks down gatekeeping of specialist knowledge. The shift from information scarcity to the need for better filtering and evaluation skills.

Productivity and Attention (48:00-55:00)
OODA loops in software development, the challenge of managing multiple projects when AI accelerates execution. Social media's impact on attention and the value of deliberate focus.

Social Media Censorship Debate (55:00-01:19:00)
Discussion of Australia's social media ban for children. Arguments for education over restriction, the dangers of information control, and the importance of teaching critical evaluation skills.

Belief Change and Growth (01:19:00-01:26:00)
The "ocean analogy" for confronting uncomfortable truths - the discomfort of changing deeply held beliefs compared to entering cold water, but the growth that follows.

Human Connection in the AI Age (01:26:00-01:32:00)
The continued importance of empathy and understanding different perspectives. Bethan's approach of assuming the best in people and the value of genuine human connection.

Closing Thoughts:
"The AI doesn't care about the outcomes that you get, but you do" - emphasizing human agency in an AI-augmented world.

Book: "The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI" by Bethan Winn