Growth doesn’t happen in straight lines, it happens in loops.

In Part 1 of Thinking in Loops, we explore how humans and intelligent systems learn, adapt and evolve through feedback, attention and rhythm.

We start with the illusion of linearity: why roadmaps, OKRs and product plans look straight, even though real intelligence never behaves that way.
Then we break down how humans loop through meaning, emotion, context and prediction, drawing from psychology, Daniel Kahneman and the theory behind Attention is all you need.

We compare this with how AI loops through measurement, error correction and adaptability, referencing Chip Huyen’s AI Engineering and Ethan Mollick’s Co-Intelligence.
You’ll learn why models improve not by being “smarter”, but by being faster at noticing they’re wrong.

Together, these ideas form the foundation for designing systems that learn with us and not just around us.

Part 1 ends with a cliffhanger:
>>> What happens when these loops expand beyond individuals… into products, teams and organizations? <<<

Listen ahead: Part 2 continues the loop.

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Listen now: https://humanxintelligent.com
→ Also available on all major podcast platforms.

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Join the movement:
> Website → https://humanxintelligent.com
> Be part of the next season → Apply or suggest a guest here

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> Instagram → https://instagram.com/humanxintelligent

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> Instagram → https://instagram.com/designwithmaddie

> LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/madalenafigueirasdacosta

Season 01 — The Human × Intelligent
Every week, we explore the systems, stories and shifts defining the new relationship between humans and intelligence.
Because clarity isn’t a destination, it’s a rhythm that keeps us human in a world that’s becoming intelligent.

In the age of AI, the smartest product in the world still fails if no one trusts it. That’s why clarity, not intelligence, has become the real measure of a great product.

In this opening episode of Human × Intelligent, Madalena Costa explores what she calls The Age of Synthetic Clarity: a moment where intelligent systems are everywhere, but understanding them is what truly defines success.

You’ll hear why simplicity is no longer enough, what “synthetic clarity” really means and how four core principles (visibility, explainability, transparency and feedback loops) help teams design products that people can trust, use and stay with.

Through analogies like the beehive, reflections on team archetypes and examples from AI-powered tools we all use, Madalena explains how clarity becomes the bridge between human sense-making and machine learning.

Because the future of product isn’t about adding more intelligence, it’s about designing clarity into intelligence itself.

At the end of the episode, Madalena shares what to expect from Season 1 (her solo exploration of the Human × Intelligent manifesto) and a preview of Season 2, when guests from around the world will join to expand the conversation.

In this episode:

• Why trust is the foundation of every intelligent product
• What “synthetic clarity” means in modern product systems
• The story of the beehive and how it mirrors intelligent collaboration
• How to think in loops and not lines
• The 4 principles of clarity in AI-powered products
• How team archetypes influence trust and design decisions

Listen if you’re building, designing or leading in the age of intelligence and you want to make your products not just smarter, but clearer.

For collaboration or guest submissions:
 📩 [email protected]
 🔗 humanxintelligent.com

📋 https://forms.gle/44raxvMN1XqjzzY68

What happens when intelligence stops feeling human?

In this short manifesto, I share the story behind Human × Intelligent. Why it exists, the spark that started it and the movement we’re building together.

This isn’t just another tech podcast. It’s a space for the curious, the uneasy and the hopeful, those who believe that intelligence is only as powerful as the humanity guiding it.

In under two minutes, you’ll hear the declaration that started it all, a vision for systems that don’t just compute, they glow.

Human × Intelligent is a bi-weekly podcast exploring how we design, lead and live in the age of AI, through short reflections and deep conversations with creators, founders and thinkers reimagining what it means to build with empathy and intelligence.

Follow the show to join the movement.
The future begins here.

Stay tuned for Episode 01: The age of synthetic clarity.

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Have something to say about AI, creativity or what it means to stay human in an intelligent world?

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Together, we’re shaping a movement: one reflection, one conversation at a time.