Ask CJ: How do you keep up?
Hey CJ,
The pace of what’s changing in AI is honestly overwhelming me. I noticed you mentioned going to the Opera House recently and staying present in the moment. I've been trying to cut down on screen time but still feel this pressure to keep up with every AI development or I’ll be left behind. How do you actually balance being present while staying informed?
– Anonymous
Oh dear Anon, welcome to information overload. Being plugged in constantly makes us feel like we should know everything while never quite catching up. This feeling is technostress, coined back in 1984 by Craig Brod as "a modern disease of adaptation caused by an inability to cope with new computer technologies." AI is just the latest culprit making us question what actually matters in our work and lives.
To put this in perspective, by 2025, we'll create 463 exabytes of data each day–that's over 212 million DVDs worth of information every 24 hours. Research papers are coming out exponentially while companies fight harder for our attention and dollars. At this point, I don't even need to put in more numbers because we're feeling it every day.
So here's the tea: you don't, you can't, and you shouldn't.
You don't need to know everything
Here's something comforting: people with PhDs in machine learning or artificial intelligence don't know everything about AI. The same as doctors and teachers, they specialise in certain parts of the field so they can develop real depth. Of course, they understand the basics: fundamentally how models work, how computers and technology interact, and perhaps a bit about human-computer interaction.
When I joined the Allen Institute, I joined a team that focused on natural language processing. Other teams were focused on different areas of specialisation: computer vision, deep learning, etc. Computer vision makes sense for a designer, but I was more interested in NLP after working in marketplaces. Since then, I've made an intentional choice to focus on two areas: natural language processing and human-computer interactions with AI.
I could certainly learn outside them, I understand the basics of how these systems work, but I'd be a beginner in many areas. It would be impossible for anyone to have significant depth in every single area, both because of the complexity and the level of focus required.
Understanding the fundamentals in any field goes a long way. It helps you make connections, apply knowledge to different areas and make informed guesses when you don't know something. If you're curious about the fundamentals of machine learning or artificial intelligence, there are tons of free resources. If something particularly catches your eye, dive in further.
You can't process it all anyway
Since we're in the realm of STEM, let's consider the biology of it all. What can our brains actually handle?
The brain's capacity for processing information varies across cognitive domains, with estimates ranging from 2 to 60 bits per second depending on the task. (Paper here)
The average adult brain can theoretically store up to 2.5 petabytes (2.5 million gigabytes) of information (Cited here)
We can't absorb everything coming at us daily. I say this not in a cynical way, but from a practical grounding. There's no point trying to force it either, it would wreck the balance needed in our lives.
I've learned to set boundaries of what I learn for my work and career to match my natural rhythms. Some people schedule their information intake (like dedicated Monday mornings for catching up). I cycle between deep dives, applying what I've learned, and completely disconnecting when my brain feels full. I prioritise information that's related to an area I don't know yet or feels important to my work. I disconnect when I start noticing the overwhelm in myself, when I feel like I'm not grasping anything new.
Ask yourself: what deserves space in your limited mental capacity? What information actually makes your work or life better rather than just adding noise?
You shouldn't limit your perspective
I can't be deep in any single area, even AI. I am simply too curious and want to know everything (not even taking my own advice, heh). Keeping a wide understanding of the world makes me better at my work.
I deliberately expand my thinking through film, sociology, and books on subjects I'd never considered before. These help me connect seemingly unrelated concepts. Partly because I believe designers should understand humanity beyond tech and design bubbles, but also because unexpected connections emerge when exploring outside our specialties. Staying exclusively in tech or design creates an echo chamber for me. Looking beyond these boundaries helps my brain solve different problems, understand diverse perspectives, and find conclusions I'd otherwise miss.
So even though AI dominates headlines, and yes, you should learn about it, it shouldn't be the only thing you explore. Look beyond the technology itself to how AI affects society, how people interact with it, what it means in different countries, and the unique histories and cultural contexts of those places. All these perspectives are just as important as understanding how AI works.
Finding your balance
Remember that Opera House moment you mentioned? As I've shared before: "Designing AI is my joy, even if it involves staring at a screen for hours on end. I love the sanctuary I've created with my computer, but I have to remind myself of the joys outside. The smell of the ocean, textures colliding in built materials, snippets of conversation." Being present means choosing when to engage deeply and when to detach.
I work in cycles: deep-dive days where I absorb information, followed by time to apply what I've learned. Then I disconnect completely, experiencing the physical world, art, relationships, and things that have nothing to do with algorithms. I do Morning Pages (thanks to the Artist's Way), I take weekends to indulge in books, when I notice I'm in the hole of my phone, I take a moment to step out. And this has come through so much trial and error.
What might work for you? When do you absorb information best? When do you need space? And what non-AI activities fill your cup and keep you connected to the real world?
Got a challenge that needs a fresh perspective? I'd love to hear from you. Submit your question for me here and it might be featured in an upcoming post.
