From Mastery to Machines — And the Case for Curiosity as AI Advances

Hi, I’m Clint, founder of C-Sure Consulting. This week’s edition of C-Shorts takes a curious look at the rise of artificial intelligence. From ancient board games to new business tools, and even into the daily lives of our children, AI is moving fast. And while some people are panicking, I’m more interested in what it can teach us — about ourselves, our systems, and the skills we want to keep alive...

🧠 AlphaGo and Unpredictable AI Back in 2016, the AI world hit a landmark moment when AlphaGo, a deep learning program from DeepMind, defeated one of the greatest Go players of all time, Lee Sedol. If you don’t know Go, it’s an ancient game that’s been around for thousands of years — elegant, intuitive, and notoriously complex. Some experts believed that AI would never be able to get that good, because the game relies so much on instinct and creativity.

But AlphaGo went on to win, and what was most interesting was that it won by making moves that baffled the experts. The early moves didn't make any sense; they didn’t follow traditional patterns, and yet somehow they worked out well in the end. That match was watched by over 200 million people, and it changed the way many of us saw AI.

What struck me wasn’t just that the machine beat its highly skilled human opponent, but how it won. It made moves that no human would have ever thought to make. So maybe the real power of AI lies not in copying what we do, but in showing us a different way to approach problems altogether. Of course, AI’s impact goes far beyond board games... 🎨 The Question of Creativity

Fast-forward to today, AI is writing songs, painting portraits, and creating photo-like images. Some of it is impressive. A lot of it is very convincing. But something still feels... different. AI-generated art has come a long way. What began as strange, glitchy images with extra fingers is now producing visuals that, at a glance, could easily pass for professional work.

And in music, it's a similar story. AI can now generate lyrics, melodies, even full tracks that sound just like your favourite artists. Some are already being marketed as ‘new’ artists in their own right and releasing their own albums! NB. FYI Yes I've listened to The Velvet Sundown and no I can't pretend not to like them! 🙃

But here’s what doesn’t sit quite right with me...

So much of it is based on the styles and voices of actual musicians, borrowed without permission or payment. We’ve already moved from buying music to just streaming it… now we’re risking cutting real artists out altogether. It also makes me wonder... if AI keeps creating based on what’s already out there, will it eventually just be remixing its own outputs, over and over, until the originality disappears completely?

At the same time, fewer people are heading out to small music venues, and as they continue to close down, so do the opportunities to discover new talent, hear something fresh, or feel that raw connection only live music can give you.

So let’s not forget how important it is to get out there, support real creators, and keep those spaces alive. AI can replicate the sound but not the story, not the struggle, and certainly not the soul.

💻 Artificial Intelligence vs Authentic Insight

AI is also making a big difference behind the scenes in supply chains, and it’s only getting smarter.

Whether it’s demand forecasting, route optimisation, or inventory management, AI can already crunch the numbers, calculate the ideal inventory profile, map out a project timeline, and even draft a half-decent pitch with a PowerPoint to go with it, and all this before you've made it back from the coffee machine. It’s fast, efficient, and frankly, smarter than most of us.

So, as a consultant, I should be worried, right? I’ve heard a few people in my network quietly admit they feel threatened by AI. And I totally get it.

But here’s why I'm not worried…

None of that replaces the power of people. Real progress still comes from conversations. From sitting down together, sharing real-life experiences, questioning assumptions, and adapting the tools to fit the people and the environment.

That’s where the value really is. And that’s where consultants will continue to make the biggest difference.

AI is a brilliant tool. I’m all for using it. But it’s just that: a tool. The real strength comes when we combine that technology with good people who know how to listen, interpret, and help others move forward in a way that makes sense for them.

I don't feel like that’s under any threat. If anything, it’s more important now than ever before.

🤖 AI is All Around Us

On a personal note, my eldest son has become completely fascinated by AI. He’s been using tools like ChatGPT and CoPilot with wide-eyed curiosity, asking great questions and exploring topics that matter to him.

But every now and then, something pops up that makes me stop and think a bit deeper...

Recently, he set up a character.ai conversation between my mother-in-law and... Bob Dylan. Yes, 'The Bard' himself. It was completely surreal and scarily accurate. The responses were thoughtful, poetic, and oddly convincing. My mother-in-law didn’t know quite what to make of it. It was quite hilarious, but also quite unsettling.

And that’s the thing. These tools are fun, fascinating, and incredibly powerful. But when they start simulating real people, I think that is where it gets a bit worrying. Because it is all too convincing, and could of course be very dangerous in the wrong hands.

On a lighter note: I saw a headline just the other day, "Man Marries AI Chatbot." Not the first time this has happened (yes, I googled it), and I doubt it’ll be the last. But I have to admit, I really struggle to connect with that idea.

There’s something deeply human about our relationships, and no matter how clever and realistic the simulation, some things just can’t be replicated in my opinion. In other news, I tested out the new AI marketing agent that popped up on my Wix website this week. I asked it to write a blog post for me based on what we do at C-Sure Consulting by lifting data from the website, just to see what it would come up with. Safe to say, it didn’t make the cut. It wasn't completely awful, but it was very dry, generic, and actually quite boring. Great news for me though, because I genuinely enjoy writing this blog, and I hope you enjoy reading it too.

In our house, we’re learning to enjoy AI for what it is: a tool to support learning, spark ideas, and explore creativity. But always with some parental guidance, and a healthy dose of real-world perspective.

🤝 Let’s Keep Connected

What challenges are you seeing right now in your own business?

Are you already using AI, or wondering how to get started?

What are your hopes or concerns about where it’s all heading? I’d love to hear from you — comment below or get in touch with us directly. Until next time...

💡 C-Sure Shortcut of the Week

AI can help you move faster. But you still need to know where you’re going.

Invest in the knowledge. Embrace the tools. And keep your eyes on what really matters.