2026: Think Like a Polymath and Ask Better Questions

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"You have not because you ask not" - James 4:2


Today’s inspiration comes from a recent conversation I had with a friend about AI.

It took about five minutes for us to agree on one thing:
AI is a supercharged dictionary.

It retrieves, remixes, and summarizes information that already exists at blistering speed. 


Where AI Shines (And Where It Doesn’t)

AI is already doing useful, practical work across industries:

  • In finance, it scans transactions for anomalies—very useful when you’re trying to spot fraud faster than a licensing officer giving out a ticket.

  • In education, it tutors students on demand, explaining concepts in multiple ways without getting tired (or vex).

  • In government and utilities, it helps analyze reports, policies, and data trends that would otherwise sit unread in a folder labeled “Final_Final_v7”.

But notice the pattern.

AI accelerates known work.

It doesn’t decide what work matters.

It doesn’t wake up one morning and ask, “Why does this system feel inefficient?”

Humans do.

                                   The Polymath Advantage

A polymath isn’t someone who knows everything!

It’s someone who knows enough across domains to ask better questions than a specialist.

A narrow thinker asks:

“What does the data say?”

A polymath asks:

“What does the data say—and why might it be misleading?”

Take Leonardo da Vinci: he studied anatomy, engineering, art, and nature, which let him design machines and paint masterpieces informed by the same principles.

That mix of curiosity and knowledge created questions others couldn’t even imagine.

AI can pull facts from a hundred disciplines. Only humans can connect them with intent.


                   Why Humans Still Have the Upper Hand

Despite better models and increasingly difficult “Are you human?” tests that make you question if you really are, AI still doesn’t:

  • Feel confusion

  • Notice irony

  • Sense cultural nuance

  • Understand why a technically correct answer can still be completely wrong

Humans live in nuance. We navigate contradiction every day. That lived experience isn’t in any dataset.

In a world drowning in answers, the real power lies with those who can ask better questions.


Think like a polymath.

Upgrade your inputs.

The rest will follow.


TLDR: Summary

  1. AI is powerful, but only as good as the questions we ask it.
  2. Polymaths ask better questions because they see connections others miss.
  3. In 2026, humans still win at curiosity, context, and judgment.
  4. If you want better AI outputs, start by upgrading your inputs—starting with yourself.

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