本文来自微信公众号：张琨随笔，作者：张琨，原文标题：《抉择：做"有趣的人"vs"有用的工 具"？》，题图来自：视觉中国 我是一个典型的生于七、八十年代的中国人。我们这一代，大多在"有用为要"的教育理念下被塑造出 来。 从小，我们就被反复告诫："学好数理化，走遍天下都不怕"、"功夫不压身"，最好的职业是科学家、医 生这类有一技之长的人。至于文学、历史、艺术，往往被贴上"没用"的标签。"百无一用是书生"、"学 文科养不活自己"，这些观念在当时是绝对的主流。我上学时，文学、武侠、漫画属于浪费时间的读 物，需要偷着看，学科标化成绩是优秀的唯一评价标准。 在这种模式的训练下，我凭借着家族智商的天分和自己不懈的努力，在社会上找到了自己的位置。但在 职场打拼20多年后，我常常反思，我的生活缺少了某种质感——一种"有趣"的质感。于是，我开始重新 拾起年轻时错过的东西：重新捡起儿时被迫放弃的运动，去博物馆感受文化品味，去阅读那些曾被认为 是"闲书"的文学、历史和哲学。体味这些"无用之用"。 我发现，我个人的经历并非个例，它深刻地烙印着一个时代的共同记忆，这个批次的我们，就像星球大 战里的克隆人兵团。而今天，我想说，是时候反思我 ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes that human abilities such as aesthetic sense, empathy, and creativity are irreplaceable by AI, and these skills will become increasingly valuable in the AI era [1] Aesthetic Sense: The Heart's Decoder - AI can mimic artistic styles but cannot grasp the deeper emotional and cultural significance behind art, which is a product of human experience and understanding [3] - Developing aesthetic sense involves engaging with art, understanding design principles, and appreciating the subtleties of visual and auditory experiences [3] Empathy: The Temperature Barrier AI Cannot Cross - AI can analyze data but lacks the ability to connect emotionally with individuals, which is essential for understanding human experiences and emotions [5] - Cultivating empathy starts with active listening and understanding the feelings of others, which can be enhanced through personal interactions and volunteer work [5] Creativity: The Magic of Connection - AI can generate numerous combinations but cannot create innovative ideas that connect disparate concepts, which is a hallmark of human creativity [7] - Fostering creativity involves exploring diverse fields, allowing time for reflection, and questioning the essence of problems to discover new possibilities [7] Conclusion - In the age of AI, the focus should be on enhancing uniquely human skills rather than competing with machines, ensuring that the essence of humanity remains intact [7]

Core Viewpoint - The creativity exhibited by AI, particularly in diffusion models, is hypothesized to be a result of the model architecture itself, rather than a flaw or limitation [1][3][19]. Group 1: Background and Hypothesis - AI systems, especially diffusion models like DALL·E and Stable Diffusion, are designed to replicate training data but often produce novel images instead [3][4]. - Researchers have been puzzled by the apparent creativity of these models, questioning how they generate new samples rather than merely memorizing data [8][6]. - The hypothesis presented by physicists Mason Kamb and Surya Ganguli suggests that the noise reduction process in diffusion models may lead to information loss, akin to a puzzle missing its instructions [8][9]. Group 2: Mechanisms of Creativity - The study draws parallels between the self-assembly processes in biological systems and the functioning of diffusion models, particularly focusing on local interactions and symmetry [11][14]. - The concepts of locality and equivariance in diffusion models are seen as both limitations and sources of creativity, as they force the model to focus on smaller pixel groups without a complete picture [15][19]. - The researchers developed a system called the Equivariant Local Score Machine (ELS) to validate their hypothesis, which demonstrated a 90% accuracy in matching outputs of trained diffusion models [18][19]. Group 3: Implications and Further Questions - The findings suggest that the creativity of diffusion models may be an emergent property of their operational dynamics, rather than a separate, higher-level phenomenon [19][21]. - There remain questions regarding the creativity of other AI systems, such as large language models, which do not rely on the same mechanisms of locality and equivariance [21][22]. - The research indicates that both human and AI creativity may stem from an incomplete understanding of the world, leading to novel and valuable outputs [21][22].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the increasing complexity faced by organizations due to technological, social, and environmental changes, highlighting the growing importance of strategic thinking [3][6] - It introduces the concept of structured problem-solving as a method to navigate these complexities, detailing a five-stage process for effectively addressing high-risk issues [6][28] Group 1: Structured Problem-Solving Stages - Stage 1 involves defining roles and communication processes among stakeholders, utilizing an ASCI framework (Approve, Support, Consult, Inform) to ensure effective engagement [8][9] - Stage 2 focuses on constructing the problem, stressing the importance of defining the issue clearly and creatively, akin to a hero's journey in storytelling [11][12] - Stage 3 is about exploring potential solutions, advocating for a separation between the creative exploration of options and the critical evaluation of those options [17][18] Group 2: Evaluation and Implementation - Stage 4 entails deciding on the best solution by rigorously evaluating options against established criteria, acknowledging the inherent trade-offs involved in decision-making [21][22][24] - The final stage emphasizes the need for a comprehensive plan that includes goals, strategies, and resource allocation for implementation, while also being prepared for unforeseen challenges [26][28] - The article encourages continuous learning and practice in structured problem-solving to enhance organizational capabilities in addressing complex issues [28]

Core Insights - The article highlights the emergence of a new generation of young entrepreneurs who redefine success through creativity and innovation, showcasing diverse paths to achievement beyond traditional metrics [1][12]. Group 1: Innovative Entrepreneurs - Zhang Boyu, a Tsinghua University student, co-founded the account "Qingnian Ge," which gained 1.4 million followers in a single day by sharing high school exam preparation tips [2][4]. - Huang Rui, a student from Quanzhou, transitioned from traditional oil painting to digital art, achieving significant recognition after his work was shared by Elon Musk, leading to auction sales exceeding 500,000 yuan [6][7]. - Hu Yuhang, a PhD graduate, developed the "Tang Seng Robot," utilizing social media to share his research journey and engage with followers, who he refers to as "electronic shareholders" [9][10]. Group 2: Social Media as a Platform - The "Qingnian Ge" team aims to democratize knowledge by sharing educational content through Douyin, reaching students in remote areas [4][5]. - Huang Rui's digital art gained over 50 million views on Douyin, showcasing the platform's ability to amplify creative work and connect artists with a broader audience [6]. - Hu Yuhang emphasizes the role of Douyin in bridging the gap between complex scientific research and public understanding, allowing for collaborative feedback and idea generation [10][11]. Group 3: Redefining Success - The featured young entrepreneurs illustrate a shift away from conventional definitions of success, embracing diverse and innovative career paths [12]. - Their collective experiences reflect a broader trend among youth to pursue passion-driven projects that leverage technology and social media for impact [12].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes that great leaders are not born with extraordinary abilities but intentionally place themselves in environments that foster learning, adaptation, and growth [3][19] - It outlines eight essential qualities for successful leadership and methods to cultivate these qualities [3][19] Group 1: Essential Qualities of Leadership - **Authenticity**: Being genuine and maintaining a real self is fundamental for success. Leaders must show their best selves to inspire trust and connection [4] - **Curiosity**: Great leaders possess a mindset of curiosity, observing and exploring unknown areas to understand possibilities better [5][6] - **Analytical Skills**: Leaders need to break down complex problems, identify root causes, and propose innovative solutions while combining experience with analytical ability [6][7] Group 2: Adaptability and Creativity - **Adaptability**: The fast pace of change requires leaders to be adaptable to shifting stakeholder expectations and to cultivate an agile team culture [8][9] - **Creativity**: Innovation stems from diverse thinking and the ability to generate new ideas, which leaders should foster within their teams [10][11] Group 3: Managing Ambiguity and Resilience - **Managing Ambiguity**: Effective leaders can hold conflicting viewpoints and prioritize competing demands, requiring a system thinking approach [13][14] - **Resilience**: Successful leaders recognize the dynamic nature of their environment and demonstrate the ability to adjust when necessary [15][16] Group 4: Empathy and Continuous Growth - **Empathy**: Understanding others on an emotional level and building trust is crucial for strong leadership [17][18] - **Continuous Learning**: Becoming an excellent leader is a process of ongoing learning and growth, driven by challenges, feedback, and relationship building [18][19]