Interactive Preview
What Do Salvador Dali and AI Have in Common?
The late afternoon sun filters through the window of an artist's studio. Salvador Dali sits in a stiff, upright chair, shoulders heavy from hours of concentration. He holds a key loosely above a metal plate, allowing himself to drift toward sleep. When the key drops and wakes him, he returns to his canvas with fresh clarity.
The technique worked because it created white space — mental breathing room where the brain could make new connections without the pressure of forcing a solution.
In 2026, AI presents the same paradox. It removes low-pressure cognitive tasks, leaving only intense thinking work. If every moment becomes high-intensity cognition with no lulls, teams face burnout and fewer creative solutions. No white space for ideas to recombine and insights to emerge.
Five perspectives to explore
The Cognitive Load Shift
What happens when AI removes the easy work?
Why This Matters
Before AI, your team's day was a mix of demanding and routine cognitive tasks. Email drafts, meeting summaries, data formatting — these weren't exciting, but they served as natural mental recovery points. AI has removed these tasks, which sounds like progress. But here's the paradox: by eliminating low-intensity cognitive work, every remaining task requires deep concentration. Your team now operates at peak mental intensity all day. Research in cognitive load theory shows this is unsustainable — the brain needs oscillation between high and low demand to maintain performance.
Research Insight
Teams using AI report 40% higher productivity but 35% higher exhaustion. The efficiency gain comes at a hidden cost that most leaders don't measure until it's too late.
Interactive Exercise
The full reflection tool includes scenario-based exercises, personalised assessments, and actionable recommendations for your team.
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The full Key & Plate tool includes interactive scenario exercises, team assessment scoring, and personalised action plans. Available as a facilitated workshop or self-guided team experience.