#131 Understanding Faster Beats Knowing More in AI Age | Paul Jorion

A conversation about intelligence, memory, and what it takes to stay human when machines think faster than we do.

Overview Episode 131

In this episode #131 of Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life, I discuss with Paul Jorion – social anthropologist, psychoanalyst, AI pioneer and rare polymath – for a far-reaching dialogue about the one capability that will define leadership in the AI era: the speed of understanding.

This is an exploration of the inner architecture of the human mind – how we remember, how we avoid, how we make sense of the world – and why the ability to grasp reality quickly and honestly now matters more than any credential.

Paul shares the astonishing personal discovery that shaped his entire life: a 75-year-old family secret that explained his childhood obsession with “understanding everything before I die.” That relentless curiosity became his greatest asset, enabling him to spot anomalies others missed – including warning signs of the subprime crisis while working inside the banking system.

What unfolds is a masterclass in how to redraw your mental map so you can live and lead on purpose in a world accelerating beyond our habits.

Highlights

Speed of understanding is the new multiplier
In the AI age, value no longer comes from accumulating knowledge but from grasping situations quickly, making sense of complexity, and adapting before the landscape shifts again.
Anomalies are where truth hides
The ability to notice what doesn’t fit—rather than what confirms our assumptions—is becoming one of the most strategic skills for leaders and professionals.
Psychoanalysis as practical liberation
Redrawing the mind’s internal map can remove invisible taboos created by early experiences, allowing us to move through life more directly instead of circling the same obstacles.
Neurodivergence needs structure, not shame
Executive function can be strengthened with the right support; for partners and leaders, the challenge is to provide stability without control or burnout.
Hierarchies are giving way to horizontal expertise
Rank matters less than where each person is most effective; the future of work will reward contribution over status.
You are not your own best compass
We often overlook our natural talents; listening to the feedback of the world around us is essential to finding our true place.
Staying “in gear” with reality keeps us human
Using our senses, curiosity, and relationships anchors us in meaning while algorithms accelerate everything else.