A Side Quest in Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Free Will

There’s no blueprint for the future anymore. The world young people are entering is more unpredictable than ever, especially with AI reshaping every industry, profession, and even how we think.

In a world where super-intelligent systems can out-process, out-work, and (sometimes) out-create us, the challenge for young people isn’t just about "keeping up." It's about staying human in the deepest sense: creative, ethical, curious, and resilient.

This past month, I got a glimpse of what that preparation might look like during a guest teaching session at The Royal Academy in Paro, Bhutan, a school that's rethinking what education can look like.

One of the first things I shared with the students was a basic startup lesson:
A successful venture needs three ingredients - a strong team, a good idea with a clear plan, and the resources to kickstart it. Sounds simple enough, right? But what happens when you don't have any of those yet?

That's where creativity, resourcefulness, and scrappiness come in. Some of the best entrepreneurs started with little more than an idea and stubbornness. The important thing isn’t having all the perfect pieces. It’s starting anyway. And iterating your way forward.

In a world where AI tools can optimize almost everything, human originality will be even more valuable. i.e. the ability to think sideways, to combine unexpected ideas, to hustle when resources are scarce, and to come up with original ideas.

We also spent a lot of time discussing AI, mainly what it is, what it isn't, and why it’s critical not to sleepwalk into a future dominated by algorithms. AI can write, draw, code, diagnose diseases, and even generate business strategies faster than any human could. But thinking critically, i.e. the ability to ask where information comes from, what it means, and what’s missing, is still uniquely ours.

The temptation to outsource our thinking to machines will be strong. That’s why one of the simplest but hardest habits young people can cultivate is this: regularly asking themselves who they are, what they like, and why. I'm sure my young friends at the Royal Academy were sick of hearing me repeat this by the end.

But I hope they understand that these aren’t idle philosophical questions. They’re tools for maintaining free will in an age where technology is designed to think and make choices on our behalf.

What struck me about the students at The Royal Academy was not just their politeness or their engagement (though both were impressive). It was how they were encouraged to think for themselves, questioning assumptions, connecting ideas, and pushing back respectfully. Maybe this is what education looks like in the age of AI.

Their curriculum reflects this. It's not just about facts and formulas; it's about ethics, creativity, leadership, and real-world problem-solving. They're not being prepared for the world as it is. They're being prepared for the world as it might become: messy, uncertain, AI-powered, and full of opportunities for those who know who they are and how to think independently.

I hope they realise (even in the smallest ways) that the question isn't about how to get the right answer faster, but how to ask better questions. That’s a skill no AI can replicate.

So based on my experience and everything I see happening around us, here’s what I believe young people (and honestly, all of us) can focus on:

• Master the fundamentals of AI: Understand what it is, how it works, and where its limits are.
• Sharpen critical thinking: Constantly question, analyze, and challenge easy answers.
• Strengthen your creative muscles: Practice imagining, inventing, combining unlikely ideas.
• Stay curious and adaptable: The future will belong to those who can keep learning and unlearning.
• Protect and cultivate your free will: Keep asking yourself who you are, what you value, and why.

But that doesn’t mean the future is bleak. My goal isn’t to scare anyone about AI. I’m a huge believer in the potential of artificial intelligence to elevate what humans can achieve. I’m also a student of this technology, constantly learning, unlearning, and relearning as it evolves. The more we engage with it thoughtfully, the more likely we are to shape a future where technology amplifies the best parts of being human, rather than replacing them.

In fact, for those who stay curious, resilient, and human, it’s full of possibilities.

My time at The Royal Academy reminded me of that. It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about having the mindset to keep searching for better ones, even when the machines are faster.

Because ultimately, the future isn’t about AI. It’s about us.

Thank you to the students and teachers at the Royal Academy. The future of Bhutan is in ridiculously good hands.

Sonam Pelden

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