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Field Notes: How Is AI Becoming Middleware For The Human Imagination?

Updated: 3 hours ago

AI is now outperforming humans at the mechanical parts of knowledge work, yet most teams are still trying to compete with the machines. In this Field Note by Ask AI, Nish Patel, CEO and Co-founder of Thinking With AI, argues that AI is fast becoming the middleware for activating human imagination, creativity, and curiosity.



Quick Summary


Nish Patel, CEO of Thinking With AI, outlines a shift where AI excels at repetitive knowledge tasks while humans lead in imagination, creativity, and sensemaking. He positions AI as middleware that scales human potential, not a competitor, with the future belonging to teams that focus on uniquely human strengths.


AI as Middleware for Human Imagination


In this Field Note recorded at the 2025 SaaS North conference, Nish Patel, CEO and Co-founder of Thinking With AI, explains why the real disruption of the AI era is not the technology itself but the mindset shift required as automation accelerates across knowledge work.


Patel argues that modern work has pushed humans toward efficiency, repetition, and predictable outputs. These are the exact domains where AI now excels. That collision fuels today’s fear. We have spent years preparing ourselves for machine work at the moment machines are finally ready to take it.


His answer reframes the whole transition: Let the machines machine so the humans can human.


"AI has superpowers such as infinite scale, instant iteration, and access to all human knowledge. It still needs our superpowers such as imagination, creativity, and curiosity." - Nish Patel, CEO and Co-founder, Thinking With AI

Patel believes that jobs are not disappearing. They are being refactored.


As AI automates the mechanical, humans are pulled back toward the work we are naturally designed for such as creative thinking, exploration, sensemaking, and imagination.


He describes AI as an infinite canvas, with imagination as the paintbrush. It is a tool that expands human potential rather than replacing it. Used this way, AI becomes middleware for the human imagination.


Patel’s insight is clear. The future belongs to teams that stop competing with machines and start focusing on what only humans can do.


Explore more Ask AI Field Notes on our blog or YouTube channel.


About Ask AI


Since 2017, Ask AI has operated as an independent nonprofit helping people spot the opportunities and navigate the challenges associated with the increased adoption of artificial intelligence at work. Our volunteers produce a podcast, short videos, free resources, and open research.


We provide a trusted, balanced perspective on this transformative technology that is reshaping the future of work and redefining professions and industries worldwide.


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