Something big is happening to expertise. It used to be simple: the more you knew about something, the more valuable you were. Experts were kings. AI is radically changing that paradigm.

For a long time, we've had a simple model of what it means to be an expert: you go deep into one area. The ideal was what people called a "T-shaped" skill set. You'd have broad, shallow knowledge across many areas (the horizontal bar of the T), but then one area where you went really deep (the vertical bar).

But now? AI tools are coming along and taking over many of these specialized, complex tasks. And they're doing it faster and more efficiently than we ever could. So what happens to our beloved T-profile?

It's flattening. The vertical line, our pride and expertise, is losing significance. Knowing every tiny detail in your field is no longer crucial. AI can look up, calculate, and analyze that for you.

Sounds scary? Maybe. But it's also a huge opportunity.

While the vertical line of the T diminishes in importance, the horizontal line becomes more crucial than ever. The ability to make connections, think across disciplines, see the big picture - these are the new superpowers.

This doesn't mean expertise becomes worthless. But its nature is changing. You need to know how to use AI to find what you need, ask the right questions, and critically evaluate AI's answers in a broader context.

So what should you do? Stop obsessing over being the ultimate specialist. You still need solid knowledge, sure. But more importantly, you need to learn how to pair that knowledge with AI to find novel solutions.

The future belongs to the synthesizers - those who can use AI to combine ideas from different fields and create something new. The T-profile is evolving: broad knowledge in multiple areas, connected by the ability to effectively use AI.

Here's a suggestion: Start playing with AI tools in your field. See which tasks they can handle. And then focus on developing your unique human abilities. Learn to dance with AI, not fight against it.