AI and the Feynman Technique
I know many of you are tired of hearing and reading about it, but AI will change the way that we work. It’s not something to be ignored or feared, it’s something to be curious about and accepted.
Yet, whenever I ask anyone what they are doing to learn about AI, almost everyone says that they don’t know where to start in their understanding of it. It’s like blockchain in that the tech propaganda gets in the way of the learning. This is where the Feynman Technique comes in.
Brilliant physicist Richard Feynman had a special talent: he could explain the most complicated ideas in ways that anyone could understand. He believed that if you couldn't explain something simply, then you didn't really understand it yourself.
It’s a great way to educate yourself about something about which you may have no knowledge and a technique I’ve used myself over the years.
Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Pick your topic
Choose something you want to learn – maybe it's AI, photosynthesis, how planes fly, or how democracy works.
Step 2: Teach it to a ‘child’
Pretend you're explaining it to someone much younger than you, say, a 12-year old. Write it down or say it out loud using simple words. No jargon, no complex terms, just plain English.
Step 3: Find the gaps
When you get stuck or start using complicated words, you've found a gap in your understanding. That's brilliant, now you know exactly what you need to work on!
Step 4: Go back and learn more
Fill in those gaps by studying (reading/watching YouTube videos) more, then try explaining it again. Keep doing this until you can explain the whole thing clearly.
It works so well because your brain has to organise the information properly. It's like tidying your bedroom, you can't just shove everything under the bed and call it clean. You have to actually sort things out.
Plus, using simple language forces you to really understand the ideas. It's easy to memorise fancy terms and fool yourself into thinking you understand something. But when you have to explain why technology could change the way we work or why plants need sunlight using words a child would know, you quickly discover whether you actually get it…or not.
Students who use this technique often find they remember things much better in exams. Instead of just memorising facts, they've built a proper understanding that sticks around. Scientists and engineers use it too.
So next time you're learning something new, try the Feynman Technique. Pick a topic, explain it to your parent/partner/pet (they're all excellent listeners), and see where you get stuck. Then go back, learn more, and try again. And remember: if you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough yet.
And yes, I did use the technique to write this blog!
