how to stage a coup and a school

On December 3rd, as I prepared to enter a design team meeting with my Korean colleagues, I got an alert that South Korea had come under martial law. Stunned, I immediately wondered if there would be a resisting force, further civil unrest. Hours later, it was over, as if it had all been done by accident, in a dream.

After stumbling upon how to stage a coup, I continued down the rabbit hole a bit further. However, what I found most interesting wasn’t the obvious strategic knowledge nor the geopolitical talk (perhaps in my previous life as a DC intern, sure), but his view on American intelligence. Particularly, the idea that we should completely gut the CIA because of their current recruitment strategy - their security clearances exclude too many, while their language proficiency and foreign intuition skills are far too lax. He contrasts this with other intelligence organizations and how their criteria has led to more success.

but what if there was another way?

I’ve been thinking a lot about education, especially design education. It seems like I’m not the only one. There is no set path forward regarding how AI will be used in education, which breaks the traditional design process as we know it.

I’m all for the “figure it out as you go” approach, which likely will become more common now that AI has been added to our toolkit. However, where does that leave educators? Does Luttwak have a point - maybe school is meant to be for those who “dabble and brabble”?

Many of these points were discussed in a talk about building an AI-native university. There’s the classic double standard: Students believe they should be using AI, though it would be duplicitous for a teacher to evaluate them using the same technology. This, like many use cases of AI, comes down to a question of values. I’ll leave you some food for thought that the speakers themselves could not entirely swallow:

• Is the point of education to get a job? If yes, then what should new graduates do if entry-level jobs disappear due to AI?

• What value does a school bring in a world where anyone can learn a skill through 1:1 AI tutors? Do schools themselves become exclusive?

• How can better judgment around AI be taught? (can this be taught, or must it be experienced?)

A handful of predictions is the best we can do at the moment. As I go into 2025 cautiously optimistic about this technology, let’s embrace the radical change and simple pleasures coming full steam ahead.

What even happened this year?

I’ll be closing things out with the YearCompass for the second year.

It is a beautiful way to remember what happened this year and to envision what you want for the upcoming one. I’ve been pleasantly surprised reading my entries from last year, smiling at the achievements while sighing at some missed opportunities.

This isn’t self-help, manifestation woo-woo - this is the power of reflection.

While I kept much of last year’s Compass to myself, I’d love to meet and chat with anyone who decides to complete this year’s Compass - whether for accountability or for fun.

Finally, If you don’t already, it would mean a lot to subscribe and let me know what you’d like to hear more about next. Cheers!