Writing a Book Is Different
- Published
- Updated
There is something special about holding a book that contains your writing.
Unlike a social media post, a book is physical. It stays on a shelf, passes from one person to another and can be underlined or read again years later. Yesterday I held Negócios e Carreira II for the first time, and that physical presence changed how the whole project felt.
Led by Rafaela Perensin and Marcello Pepe, the book brought together a Portuguese-Brazilian community of professionals and entrepreneurs. My contribution was a chapter on Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work.
Why write about AI in a book?
Tools change quickly. A name, interface or feature may become outdated before a book reaches its reader. That is why I did not want to write a catalogue of applications.
I wrote about more durable principles:
- begin with the problem, not the technology;
- use AI to expand capability, not abandon responsibility;
- turn curiosity into method;
- retain critical thinking;
- learn continuously;
- preserve the human dimension of work.
A book forces you to decide what deserves to remain after the novelty passes.
What was already changing at work
Generative AI had made tasks accessible that previously required more time or specialist support. A professional could create a first draft, explore scenarios, organise data or transform information into different formats.
That did not mean the result was ready. It meant the person could reach a version worth discussing, testing and improving more quickly.
Value was shifting from mechanical execution towards skills such as:
- defining a good question;
- recognising relevant information;
- assessing quality;
- making decisions in context;
- communicating clearly;
- taking responsibility for the result.
Three central ideas from the chapter
1. AI is a layer of work
It should not be treated only as an isolated tool. It can enter research, creation, analysis, communication and execution. To generate value, it needs to be connected to a real task and process.
2. Productivity is not producing more content
A faster answer is not necessarily better. Productivity can also mean reducing rework, preparing a decision more thoroughly, responding consistently or freeing time for an important conversation.
3. Autonomy requires judgement
When a person can do more without depending on others, they gain autonomy. They also need to understand the limits of their knowledge, verify the tool and seek specialist help when the risk demands it.
An exercise for any professional
Choose one working week and record:
- repetitive tasks;
- decisions that require extensive preparation;
- information that is difficult to find;
- texts that always start from zero;
- moments when a human conversation works better.
Then mark where AI could prepare, organise or suggest and where it should remain outside the process. This map is more useful than installing several tools without a concrete question.
Preparing complex choices is one of the most important uses; the article AI for leaders sets out a six-stage decision method.
From the chapter to the stage
On the Saturday after the original article was published, I presented the chapter at the Portuguese-Brazilian Congress at ISLA Gaia. The goal was to demonstrate, through examples, how to turn AI into a practical advantage without mysticism, fear or inflated promises.
That remains the basis of my work: clarity, strategy and real application. You can read about my background on André F. Costa's SuperHumano AI page, explore Artificial Intelligence training or continue learning at SuperHumano Academy.
Frequently asked questions
What was the chapter about?
The chapter covered Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work, with examples for professionals, entrepreneurs and creators.
Does AI make a book quickly outdated?
Details about tools can age, but principles around application, critical thinking, responsibility and learning remain useful for longer.
What is the most important skill for the future of work?
There is no single skill. A combination of domain knowledge, learning ability, AI literacy, communication and human judgement matters more than mastery of one tool.
Writing a post is immediate. Writing in a book is permanent.
And that carries weight.
Context note: the special edition mentioned in the original article no longer has an active page. I have preserved the account of the launch and updated the links to available resources.