Here’s a slightly uncomfortable analogy: humans are large language models running around on two legs.
The human brain is a pattern engine that specialises in languaging—turning patterns into words. Most of what we call “thinking” is really this:
• word searching,
• sentence generation,
• story editing.
It may feel like thinking. But it’s really just languaging and languaging is not thinking.
AI systems like ChatGPT, Meta, Claude and friends are also LLMs. Feed them a prompt and they generate the most statistically likely next word. They speak confidently, fluently, instantly. And they do it with speed.
Humans are similar, just with hormones and childhood.
The lateral thinker Edward de Bono once observed:
“If the average human did three minutes of real thinking a day that would be very high.”
Three minutes.
The rest is scripted language and emotional defence. Languaging is inside-the-box. Real thinking—especially curious thinking—is outside-the-box.
The problem isn’t that we’re not smart. The problem is that we use our smarts to protect the box instead of stepping out of it.
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Lesson Four DFQ is:
In human thinking what’s the difference between inside-the-box and outside-the-box?
(To qualify for your DipABC(SOT) certificate post your answer in the Comment section below).
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Next lesson: The Brain Network Behind Wonder.
Inside-the-box = Languaging (word searching, sentence generation, story editing) — automated, scripted, pattern-based thinking.
Outside-the-box = Real thinking, especially curious thinking — stepping outside patterns to discover new possibilities.
Edward de Bono: “If the average human did three minutes of real thinking a day that would be very high.”