"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it." — Henry Ford
AI can save time, but if you let it do all your thinking, you weaken your ability to think. Use tech to execute faster, not replace your own judgment.
That's the question Justin asked me on our most recent podcast.
At first I disagreed, but the more I think about it, AI makes it ridiculously easy to skip the mental heavy lifting.
AI is efficient. But it is also dangerous. There is a vital difference between using AI to remove friction and using it to replace thought.
A business coach once made me block quiet thinking time on my calendar. No tech. Just a pen and a problem. The lack of stimulation might feel uncomfortable at first. But eventually, you start thinking again. Real thinking.
You make unique connections and find true clarity.
AI can remix and accelerate the past. But imagination, instinct, and discernment are still your job.
Your best ideas will not come from staring at a prompt box. They happen on walks. In the shower. In quiet rooms.
If your first instinct is to hand every problem to ChatGPT or Claude, your thinking muscles will atrophy. What you do not use gets weak.
I am not saying to stop using AI. Use it on purpose. Let it help you execute faster, draft, and automate. But keep the crucial thinking for yourself. Wrestle with an idea and form an opinion before asking the machine. I
f you do not, you may get faster while getting shallower. And that is not a trade I am willing to make.
Here's your next move:
Block 30 minutes of thinking time on your calendar. Make it a repeating meeting with yourself. No phone. No laptop. No tabs. Just a notebook and one problem, question, or decision worth sitting with.
Pick one challenge before you prompt. Before you ask AI what to do, think it through yourself first. What do you actually believe? What feels true? What options do you already see?
Use AI after the reps. Once you've done your own thinking, then bring AI in to sharpen, expand, challenge, or organize your ideas.
Did you catch this on the news? A Chinese startup just released an AI model that works autonomously for eight hours. Thousands of steps, zero hand-holding.
AI is becoming a shift worker, not just a search engine. Let it handle your repetitive workflows, but keep your strategy and judgment for yourself.
When I teach my workshops, I hear the same concern from attendees: Now that AI can do almost anything, the hardest part is knowing where to start. Here's my recommendation for you: Think of a repetitive task in your business. Open an agentic AI tool (like Claude Code, Codex, Perplexity, or Manus) and try this exact prompt:
"I want to automate a repetitive workflow. Give me space to walk you through what I currently do manually: the steps, the tools involved, and where it breaks down. Once that's down, help me think through the best approach with follow-up questions. Only start building once we've agreed on a plan."
That's it. No blank page panic. The AI does the discovery work alongside you.
Your job is to describe the work; its job is to figure out how to eliminate it. Let AI work the long shift on the tasks that drain you, and save your best thinking for what actually matters.
On the latest episode of King Moves, Justin and I tackled a question more people should be asking: Is AI making us dumber?
We talked about why founders need actual thinking time, why convenience can become a trap, and how to use AI without letting it slowly erode your own judgment.
If you've been relying on AI for every draft, every answer, and every decision, this episode will challenge you in the best way.
Stop playing life on hard mode. Automate your success.
Until next time,
Ethan King
A.I. Automation for Business Growth
Keynote Speaker | Author | CEO | Strategist
ethan@ethanking.com
P.S. Anthropic just crossed $30 billion in annualized revenue. Up from $9 billion just a few months ago. Over 1,000 businesses now spend more than $1 million a year on Claude alone.
In my opinion, that growth is well deserved.
Antrhopic recently changed how third-party AI tools like OpenClaw access Claude, which means I now pay "extra usage" fees to use Claude through my regular subscription. I had to find workarounds. I installed a local AI model that runs on my own machine for free. I use lighter models for the everyday stuff.
But when I need real brain power? I pay the extra usage fee for Opus without hesitation.
Because sometimes you need that big brain power to just get stuff done.
AI is moving so fast that even paying for the premium option feels like a bargain compared to what it actually does. The companies doing this work seriously are earning every dollar.
Just don't let the price tag be an excuse not to start. Start with whatever you have. Upgrade when the work demands it.
P.P.S. Already running OpenClaw but feel like you’re only scratching the surface? That’s what OpenClaw Kings is for. A community of serious builders turning agents into real operators—automating workflows, executing tasks, and actually moving the business forward. Less tinkering. More deploying.
👉 openclawkings.com
Upcoming speaking engagements:
• EO GLC, Marketing & Communications Experts Training, Dublin
• EO Charleston, AI Beyond the Hype Part 1, Charleston
• XPX Triangle, AI In Action: Turn AI Into ROI In Real-Time, Raleigh
• World Ticket Conference, AI Automation in Action: Your Ticket to an Unfair Advantage, New Orleans
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