The Funny Thing about Intelligence and Power

We have spent centuries treating cognitive ability as a sacrament, using it to justify hierarchies and decide who deserves a seat at the table. But as intelligence becomes a commodity, the foundations of that power are shifting. This episode explores what happens when we stop performing expertise and start prioritizing presence.

Key Reflections

The End of the Intelligence Cult: For generations, we used degrees and abstract thought as measures of human merit. If a machine can now synthesize information better than we can, the scarcity that fueled our professional hierarchies is evaporating.

From Expertise to Presence: When you no longer have to be the smartest person in the room, you are free to be the most present. AI may replicate logic, but it cannot replicate the act of seeing another person as entirely human.

The Role of the Modern Leader: Leadership is moving away from protecting proprietary knowledge and toward creating environments for collective thinking. The value lies in mentorship and empathy—skills that were never "consolation prizes" for a lower IQ, but the very things that advance the world.

A Liberating Humility: Admitting that our systems were often unfair is difficult, but it is also a relief. We can finally stop protecting our turf and start developing relationships.

Notable Quotes

"When you cease hoarding information, you can begin to share understanding."

"Empathy isn't a substitute plan if your IQ is no longer valuable. Empathy is what should have been valuable all along."

"You don't have to pretend anymore. You don't have to perform genius. You can simply be a human: flawed, relational, present."

My Substack article that his originated from https://bobhutchins.substack.com/p/the-funny-thing-about-intelligence