The Axios founders on how AI ruined your inbox, why the '90s really were different and how to succeed through 'Simplify'
Three years after Smart Brevity became gospel inside corporate comms departments, the founders of Axios are back with a diagnosis of what broke their own prescription: artificial intelligence.
TL;DR
- Axios founders believe AI has worsened inboxes and workloads, leading to more 'work-like activity' rather than genuine progress.
- Their new book, *Simplify: Do 50% More with 50% Less*, proposes a framework to combat this issue.
- The proposed solution involves regular, ruthless auditing of tasks and obligations to eliminate what is unnecessary.
- A key principle is the intentional use of 'no' as a complete sentence to decline non-essential commitments.
- The book contrasts the current cognitive burden with the slower pace of the pre-internet '90s, arguing for a return to intentional focus.
- AI's impact on cognition is complex, with advice differing based on career stage: minimal use for students to develop foundational knowledge, strategic use for experienced professionals.
- Success in the modern workforce involves being ruthless about what matters and leveraging AI as a 'force multiplier' for specific job functions.