REF: ESW030326EN
Why our everyday decisions may become humanity’s biggest weakness in a world increasingly shaped by intelligent machines.
We humans like to think of ourselves as the smartest species on earth. After all, we built computers, airplanes, the internet, and now artificial intelligence. Yet when you step back and honestly look at how we live, spend money, treat our bodies, follow leaders, and waste our time, it becomes painfully clear that intelligence and wisdom are not the same thing.
In fact, one could argue that human stupidity may end up being the most expensive mistake our species ever makes—especially now that we are creating machines that may soon surpass us.
Adam and Eve Started the Trend.
Life itself is already hard enough, but Adam and Eve really screwed humanity up. If you ask me, they might have been the very first really stupid people on earth.
Think about it. According to the biblical story, humanity started in a perfect environment. No stress, no bills, no taxes, no traffic, no debt, and no social media. Just a beautiful garden and one simple instruction: don’t eat from that one tree.
And what did they do?
Exactly that.
Everything was perfect. Everything was provided. There was only one rule, and they broke it. Whether someone takes that story literally or symbolically, it captures something very real about human nature: we have an incredible ability to do exactly what we know we shouldn’t do.
Fast forward thousands of years and here we are—supposedly the smartest species on earth (besides AI, I guess)—still doing some of the stupidest things imaginable.
Stupid Behavior Isn’t Limited to Anyone.
You don’t have to look very far to see examples of this. Just look at the Epstein files. You hear names like Bill Gates and other powerful people with more money than they could ever spend in several lifetimes allegedly involved in situations that make you wonder, what in the world are you thinking?
Now, I don’t know what is true and what isn’t, and that’s not really the point. The point is the pattern.
What’s wrong with people?
And before pointing fingers too far, let me include myself. Because all it takes for any of us—including me—is a little extra money, a little extra power, or a little extra opportunity, and we might do something stupid with it.
The Things We Do to Our Own Bodies.
Look at what humans do to their own bodies.
Smoking cigarettes. Using illegal substances. Drinking excessively. Driving under the influence while saying, “I’m fine.” No, you’re not fine. If you’re drunk and behind the wheel, you’re not in your right mind. That’s not controversial. That’s stupidity.
Anything you depend on to feel good or function—whether it’s nicotine, alcohol, soda, or something stronger—is usually a red flag (I don’t smoke, drink, or use illegal substances). Even natural things in excess can hurt you. Too much of anything isn’t good.
Then there’s food. Most of us, myself included, don’t eat as well as we should. Instead of treating our bodies like the incredible machines they are, we go for convenience and taste.
How many people drink Coca-Cola every day? I used to drink one or two daily. I don’t drink that stuff anymore, but I still drink coffee—one or two a day. For a long time I drank it in those cheap gas-station cups filled with chemicals. Looking back, that was pretty idiotic.
And sleep? People brag about sleeping four or five hours a night like it’s some kind of badge of honor. Then they wonder why they’re anxious, exhausted, irritable, overweight, or depressed.
The Stupidity of Money Habits.
Money is another area where human stupidity shines.
How many people save nothing? They spend everything they earn—and then some. Credit cards. Car loans. Store credit. Financing everything. A $5,000 credit card balance making minimum payments can take decades to pay off while you hand thousands of dollars to the bank in interest.
Hello. Is anybody home?
We buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t even like. We upgrade phones that work perfectly fine. We replace cars that still run great just to look successful. Then we complain about being broke.
Clever people have found ingenious ways of getting money out of your pocket while you are happy to hand it over. Sometimes the products and services are useful, but many times they simply create the desire in you to want something you didn’t even know you needed five minutes earlier.
And then come the savvy crooks. These are the people who decide that honest business isn’t enough. They take shortcuts, cut corners, and maximize profits at any cost. Sometimes they manipulate information, reduce quality, or buy influence through bribery or backroom deals so unethical or even dangerous things get approved.
The sad part is that many times we the people know this. We suspect it, we talk about it, we complain about it—and in the end we still play along.
What makes this even more frustrating is that most people have no clue that there are actually very simple, low-risk ways to invest money that over time could allow the majority of people to retire with a couple of million dollars. It doesn’t require hiring expensive financial advisors or paying some guru to manage your money. In many cases people can do it themselves directly from their mobile phones with simple long-term investment strategies.
But this kind of knowledge is rarely emphasized in schools, and many financial “experts” won’t teach you these basics unless you pay them a hefty fee. Meanwhile the government and financial institutions benefit from a population that spends more than it saves.
No wonder why so many people remain broke their entire lives.
Politics and Power.
Politics is another area where stupidity becomes obvious.
Corrupt politicians promise everything. Prosperity, security, national greatness—you name it. People cheer, vote, and defend them like heroes.
And many times those same politicians turn out to be crooks.
History repeats this pattern again and again because people keep believing whatever speech sounds good at the moment.
Social Media: Your Attention Is the Product.
Social media is another perfect example.
A few months ago I deleted all my social media accounts. Not deactivated—deleted. People say, “But the pictures.” Save them and delete the account.
And let me say this clearly: every minute you spend on social media, the stupider you become.
Not because you’re incapable of thinking, but because your attention span shrinks, your emotions get manipulated, and your critical thinking weakens. You scroll, react, argue, and consume endless noise.
Meanwhile someone else is monetizing your attention.
Sports and the Illusion of “We Won.”
Sports provide another interesting example.
Exercise and physical activity are great. But professional sports? People get emotionally invested screaming, “My team won!” or even worse, “We won!”
We won? We, Kimosabe?
They won.
You didn’t win anything.
In fact, in many cases you lost money. Tickets, food, drinks, jerseys, merchandise.
Did your team winning make you richer? Did your life improve because they won the championship?
Two weeks later most people barely remember who won anyway.
Meanwhile the owners, the athletes, the employees, the advertisers, and all the surrounding businesses are the ones making the money thanks to people like you and me (although I don’t spend a dime on sports nor waste my precious time watching them).
Religion and the Prosperity Trap.
Religion is not immune to stupidity either.
I’m sure there are sincere people with good intentions. But there are also bad actors—especially those preaching the prosperity gospel. Be careful with those thieves.
Their message attracts you because they tell you exactly what you want to hear.
“Give more and God will bless you financially.”
“Your breakthrough is coming.”
“Plant a seed.”
Meanwhile they’re the ones collecting the harvest.
A Personal Reality Check.
Now, I’m not writing this from some pedestal of perfection. I’m a work in progress just like everyone else.
But I have made some changes. I’m getting out of debt. I’m actively reducing unnecessary expenses. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I don’t use illegal substances. I don’t spend a dime on sports, and I don’t watch sports because I don’t want to waste my precious time on something superficial and ephemeral. I exercise daily.
However, I still need to improve my eating habits and eat healthier, and like everyone else there are many areas where I can improve.
The point is not perfection. The point is awareness—and the courage to take action and stop sabotaging ourselves with stupid decisions.
Final Thought.
Maybe we should spend more time reading something educational, learning new skills, and finding ways to improve ourselves instead of wasting hours scrolling, arguing, and consuming nonsense.
Because if AI eventually replaces us—or worse, exterminates us—maybe we will have earned that outcome by refusing to use the intelligence we were given.
And to the so-called smart guys who look down on the rest of humanity and secretly fantasize about eliminating most of the population as their wet dream, make sure you get it right.
Because if you build something smarter than you, you may discover that the very intelligence you created decides that you are part of the problem.
Ouch.
Maybe it’s time we start acting like the smartest species on earth.
Before something else proves that we’re not.
Recommended reading: How to Get Out of Debt Quickly and The Simple Path to Wealth.
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— Eduardo