by Cody Wise, Founder, Designer and Entrepreneur
Palantir CEO Alex Karp laid it out clearly.
As AI accelerates, two groups become structurally safer than everyone else.
Not because of status.
Not because of credentials.
Because of how they operate.
The Two Groups
The first group is hands-on operators.
- electricians
- plumbers
- mechanics
People who work in the real world.
Their work depends on:
- physical presence
- edge-case judgment
- unpredictable environments
AI struggles here.
Because reality is messy.
The second group is non-linear thinkers.
- people who think differently
- pattern breakers
- system builders
These are people who do not follow standard playbooks.
They reframe problems.
They see things others miss.
They are not predictable.
And that matters.
What This Actually Means
This is not about trades vs tech.
It is about what cannot be automated.
AI is extremely good at:
- repeatable logic
- pattern-based output
- structured thinking
Which means anything that follows a clear pattern becomes replaceable.
The Death of the Middle
The biggest risk is not at the bottom.
It is in the middle.
People who:
- follow processes
- produce predictable output
- operate inside systems
That is exactly what AI replaces first.
Not the best.
Not the most hands-on.
The average.
Execution Becomes the Divider
Anyone can think now.
Few people execute.
That is the new gap.
The people who win are not the ones with the best ideas.
They are the ones who:
- move fast
- build fast
- ship consistently
Execution is no longer optional.
It is the baseline.
Why Non-Linear Thinking Wins
AI is trained on existing data.
Which means it produces expected outputs.
It is optimized for the average.
But the highest value comes from:
- unexpected ideas
- new combinations
- different perspectives
This is why people who think differently become more valuable.
Not less.
The Founder Advantage
If you are a founder, this is your moment.
You now have access to:
- tools that build products
- tools that write content
- tools that automate systems
But tools are not the advantage.
Execution is.
What You Should Actually Do
Ignore the noise.
Focus on this:
- build something real
- ship consistently
- develop your own thinking
Do not try to compete with AI on output.
Use it to move faster.
How I Apply This
At Wise Media, we do not compete on ideas alone.
We compete on speed and execution.
We use AI to:
- build faster
- iterate faster
- deliver faster
That is what creates value now.
Not just thinking.
If you want to build faster and actually ship, start here:
App Development Packages
Website Packages
Book a Strategy Call
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What did Palantir’s CEO say about AI?
He said two groups are safer in the AI era, hands-on workers and non-linear thinkers.
2. Why are hands-on workers safer?
Because their work depends on physical presence and unpredictable environments.
3. What are non-linear thinkers?
People who think differently, challenge norms, and create new solutions.
4. Why is AI replacing middle-level jobs?
Because those roles rely on repeatable, structured tasks that AI can automate.
5. What skills are most valuable now?
Execution, decision making, and unconventional thinking.
6. Is AI a threat or opportunity?
It is both, depending on how you use it.
7. How can founders benefit from AI?
By using it to move faster and build systems efficiently.
8. What is execution in business?
Turning ideas into real results through action and systems.
9. Why is average thinking losing value?
Because AI can replicate it quickly and at scale.
10. Who wins in the AI era?
People who act fast and think differently.