The Robot Running Faster Than Usain Bolt Isn't the Most Important Part

 

The Robot Running Faster Than Usain Bolt Isn't the Most Important Part

The real story is how quickly technology is improving — and what that means for us.

Something remarkable happened at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing.

A humanoid robot called Tiangong Ultra completed the 100-metre sprint in 9.39 seconds.

For comparison, Usain Bolt's human world record is 9.58 seconds.

It makes a fantastic headline.

A robot has run faster than Usain Bolt.

But that wasn't the number that really caught my attention.

This was:

21.50 seconds.

That was the robot's winning time in the same event at last year's games.

Now look at the two numbers together:

2025 — 21.50 seconds

2026 — 9.39 seconds

That is extraordinary improvement in roughly one year.

And that is where I believe the real lesson begins.

Don't Only Look at Capability. Look at the Rate of Improvement.

Whenever we discuss artificial intelligence, people naturally ask:

"What can AI do?"

That's an important question.

But increasingly, I think there is another question we need to ask:

How quickly is AI becoming better at doing it?

Think about what generative AI could comfortably do three or four years ago compared with today.

Writing. Coding. Images. Video. Research. Analysis. Voice. Reasoning. Automation. AI agents.

The important signal isn't simply today's capability.

It is the trajectory.

What looks difficult today may become ordinary surprisingly quickly.

That's why waiting until technology becomes “good enough” before learning about it may be a dangerous strategy.

By the time we decide it is ready, somebody else may already have spent months learning how to use it well.

Access to AI Will Not Be the Advantage

There was a time when simply knowing how to use ChatGPT could differentiate someone.

I don't believe that will last.

AI tools are becoming increasingly accessible.

Your colleague can access them.

Your competitor can access them.

Your customers can access them.

Soon, having AI will be a little like having access to the internet.

The differentiator won't be whether you have it.

It will be what you can do with it.

Can you ask better questions?

Can you define the real problem?

Can you give AI sufficient context?

Can you evaluate its answer?

Can you recognise when it is confidently wrong?

Can you turn a useful prompt into a repeatable workflow?

Can your organisation move beyond scattered individual experimentation towards shared capability?

And perhaps most importantly:

Do you know what NOT to delegate to AI?

As Machines Improve, Humans Need Better Bricks

In my AI training, I use a simple idea called Bits vs Bricks.

The Bits are things AI can increasingly help us accelerate:

Researching.

Drafting.

Summarising.

Structuring.

Comparing.

Analysing.

Generating options.

Preparing first versions.

And that list will continue growing.

But the Bricks are different.

They include:

Purpose.
Judgement.
Leadership.
Empathy.
Relationships.
Trust.
Values.
Strategy.
Accountability.

These are the foundations on which good decisions and meaningful human work are built.

The more capable AI becomes at handling the Bits, the more important it becomes for us to strengthen our Bricks.

That's the part I don't want people to miss.

Better AI does not remove the need for capable humans.

It changes what capable humans need to become good at.

The Wrong Response Is Fear

Watching robots sprint, box, play football, or perform industrial tasks can easily lead us towards two extremes.

One is hype:

"AI can do everything!"

The other is fear:

"AI is going to replace everyone!"

Neither response is particularly useful.

A better response is curiosity combined with action.

Ask:

What is becoming possible?

What can this help me do better?

What should I learn?

What must still remain human-owned?

What could go wrong if I blindly trust the technology?

And then — experiment.

Small task.

Real problem.

Useful output.

Human review.

Learn.

Improve.

Repeat.

That's how capability is built.

So Here's My Challenge

Don't watch the humanoid robot and simply think:

"Wow. Technology is getting fast."

Ask yourself:

What can AI do today that it couldn't realistically do a year ago?

Then ask a much more personal question:

What can I do today that I couldn't do a year ago?

And finally:

What am I deliberately learning now so that I'm more capable one year from today?

Because technology isn't waiting for us to become comfortable.

It will continue improving.

Our job isn't to race against the machines.

Our job is to become better thinkers, better decision-makers, better communicators, better leaders and better humans — while learning to use increasingly powerful technology wisely.

Use AI for the Bits.

Humans own the Bricks.

And keep moving:

THINK BETTER → WORK SMARTER → CREATE IMPACT.

🎥 Watch the BBC World video: https://x.com/BBCWorld/status/2091640824807194928?s=20&utm_source=chatgpt.com

📰 Read the BBC story: https://bbc.in/45KuGwx?utm_source=chatgpt.com

“I Thought You Understood”: The Silent Cost of Miscommunication at Work

 

“I Thought You Understood”: The Silent Cost of Miscommunication at Work

One of the most expensive sentences inside an organisation may be:

“But I thought you understood.”

We hear variations of it everywhere.

A manager gives instructions.

The employee listens carefully.

The manager asks, “Understand?”

“Yes.”

Everyone walks away believing the communication has been completed.

Several days later, the work comes back.

And suddenly:

“This isn't what I asked for.”

The employee is equally surprised.

“But this is what I understood.”

This exact problem sits at the heart of an excellent article published in Utusan Malaysia by my friend, partner and mentor, Dr Ruzaimi Mat Rani, titled “Saya rasa awak dah salah faham…”

And it raises an important issue for every leader, manager, trainer and team.

Communication Is Not Transmission

We sometimes treat communication as though we are sending a WhatsApp message.

Send.

Delivered.

Done.

Human communication doesn't work that way.

The fact that I have spoken does not mean you have understood.

The fact that you heard my words does not mean you interpreted them the way I intended.

And perhaps most importantly:

The fact that you said “I understand” does not necessarily mean the picture in your mind is the same as the picture in mine.

This is where organisations can lose enormous amounts of time.

Mistakes happen.

Work has to be repeated.

Meetings multiply.

Managers become frustrated.

Employees feel unfairly blamed.

Decisions are delayed.

And sometimes relationships are damaged.

All because two people walked away from the same conversation carrying two different pictures.

Jangan Syok Sendiri

There is a Malaysian expression that captures this problem rather nicely:

Jangan syok sendiri.

In communication, we shouldn't assume that something is clear simply because we think we explained it clearly.

The responsibility of communication isn't simply to speak.

The responsibility is to create enough shared understanding for people to act correctly.

And that requires something incredibly important:

Feedback.

The communication loop must come back.

Instead of:

“Faham?”

Perhaps we need:

“Tell me what you understood.”

Instead of:

“Any questions?”

Perhaps:

“How are you going to approach this?”

Instead of simply giving instructions:

“Let's map this out quickly.”

These small changes allow misunderstandings to appear before somebody spends three days doing the wrong work.

Why Visual Communication Matters

This is where Dr Ruzaimi's work in visual communication becomes especially relevant.

Human beings don't always think in neat sentences.

We think in relationships.

Sequences.

Priorities.

People.

Places.

Timelines.

Comparisons.

Dependencies.

A simple visual allows us to put these relationships in front of us.

Boxes.

Arrows.

People.

A timeline.

A flow.

Nothing fancy.

But suddenly two people are no longer discussing only what they think the other person means.

They have something visible that both can examine.

“This comes first?”

“No, actually that happens afterwards.”

“Is this person responsible?”

“No, they only need to be informed.”

“So this is the final output?”

“Yes. Exactly.”

That is communication becoming visible.

And as highlighted in Dr Ruzaimi's article, the organisational benefits can be very practical: faster understanding, better decisions, fewer mistakes and less repeated work.

It Is Not About Drawing

This is something we continuously emphasise in the training programmes we deliver.

Visual communication is not about turning employees into artists.

Nobody receives extra marks because their stickman looks handsome.

The objective is much more practical.

Can you make an idea easier to understand?

Can you help another person see what you are thinking?

Can you expose confusion before it becomes a mistake?

Can your team align around the same picture?

That is where the value lies.

And it reflects something I strongly believe about learning itself: people should leave training clearer, more capable and able to apply what they learned, rather than merely knowing more theory.

Communication Matters Even More in the Age of AI

There is another reason this conversation matters today.

AI is becoming part of everyday work.

People are discovering that AI can write, summarise, analyse, generate ideas and produce content remarkably quickly.

But there is one problem.

AI cannot rescue unclear thinking every time.

A vague instruction to a human often creates misunderstanding.

A vague instruction to AI often produces a beautifully written misunderstanding — only much faster.

That is why I teach people to think before prompting and to make complex thinking visible before asking AI to produce the output. Visual PIDO, for example, uses the sequence Think → Draw → Prompt to make the structure, relationships and requirements clearer before AI begins generating.

Technology does not remove the need for communication.

In many ways, it makes clear communication even more important.

The Question Leaders Should Ask

So perhaps leaders should stop relying solely on:

“Do you understand?”

It is too easy to say yes.

Instead, try:

“Show me what you understood.”

Ask the person to explain it.

Sketch it.

Repeat the priorities.

Describe the expected output.

Walk through the process.

Give feedback.

Correct the misunderstanding while it is still cheap.

Because communication isn't successful when the message leaves our mouth.

It is successful when the right meaning reaches the other person — and we have enough feedback to know that it did.

One Final Thought

When something goes wrong inside an organisation, we often look immediately at the person.

Perhaps sometimes we need to look at the communication system.

Was the instruction clear?

Was the expected outcome visible?

Was there an opportunity to clarify?

Was feedback encouraged?

Did both sides actually share the same understanding?

Because sometimes the problem isn't that people are unwilling to do good work.

They may simply be working from a different picture.

And making that picture visible might be one of the simplest investments an organisation can make.

Think better. Communicate better. Work better.

—

Inspired by the Utusan Malaysia article “Saya rasa awak dah salah faham…” by Dr Ruzaimi Mat Rani.

POWER UP! Preparing UniSZA Students for Careers in the Age of AI

 POWER UP! Preparing UniSZA Students for Careers in the Age of AI

What does it really mean to be ready for the working world today?

Having a degree is important. Having knowledge is important. But as graduates prepare to transition from university into their careers, they also need something more — the ability to understand themselves, manage themselves, communicate confidently and adapt to a rapidly changing world.

And increasingly, they need to know how to work with AI.

Today, we had the opportunity to work with students from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) through our POWER UP! Finishing School Programme.

The objective of POWER UP! is not simply to motivate students.

We want to equip them with practical skills they can use immediately.

From Career Planning to Self-Discovery

We began by getting students to think about their careers.

Where do I want to go?

What kind of work suits me?

What are the skills I need to develop now to get there?

But career planning becomes much more meaningful when we first understand ourselves.

Through Colour Personality Discovery, students explored their personalities, strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, they began understanding that people around them may think, communicate and respond very differently.

This self-awareness can make a tremendous difference when they eventually enter diverse workplaces and teams.

Managing Two Important Resources: Time and Money

We also explored two resources that every young person will have to learn to manage — time and money.

Time management is not simply about creating a schedule. It is about understanding priorities, making choices and taking responsibility for how we use the limited time available to us.

The same principle applies to money.

Developing sound financial habits early can influence many of the choices and opportunities available to young adults later in life.

These may sound like simple lessons, but they are fundamental life skills.

Preparing for the Job Interview

Of course, no finishing school would be complete without preparing students for one of their first major gateways into the working world — the job interview.

We explored personal grooming, professional appearance, body language and how candidates present themselves.

Students need to understand that communication begins even before they answer the first interview question.

How you enter the room, sit, maintain eye contact, listen and respond all contribute to the impression you create.

Then We Added AI

This is where POWER UP! becomes particularly relevant to today’s graduates.

Rather than teaching AI as a separate topic, we showed students how it can be leveraged across their personal and career development.

AI can help students explore possible career paths.

It can help them identify skills they need to develop.

It can act as a practice partner for job interviews.

It can provide feedback on their answers.

It can help them organise their time, think through financial decisions and improve their communication.

But there is an important principle behind all of this:

AI should enhance human capability — not replace human thinking.

The students who will thrive in the future will not necessarily be those who simply know how to use AI.

They will be those who understand when to use it, how to question it, how to improve its output and how to combine it with their own judgement, creativity, communication and humanity.

That is the real upgrade.

Creating Future-Ready Graduates

Ultimately, POWER UP! is about helping young people make the transition from being students to becoming confident, responsible and future-ready professionals.

Career direction.

Self-awareness.

Time management.

Financial awareness.

Professional presence.

Communication.

And now, AI literacy.

When these capabilities come together, we begin preparing graduates not merely to look for their first job — but to continuously grow throughout their careers.

A huge thank you to UniSZA and especially the students who participated so enthusiastically in today’s programme.

The energy in the room reminded us why programmes like this matter.

Bring POWER UP! to Your Campus

If you represent a university, college or other institution of higher learning and are looking for a finishing school or student development programme that goes beyond another motivational talk, we’d be happy to explore working together.

Our goal is to create programmes that are practical, interactive, relevant to today’s workplace and capable of making a real difference to students.

Let’s POWER UP the next generation of graduates.

Contact us to discuss bringing the POWER UP! Finishing School Programme to your students.

#PowerUP #FinishingSchool #UniSZA #RealLeadersSolutions #GraduateEmployability #CareerReadiness #StudentDevelopment #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #FutureReady #FutureOfWork #LeadershipDevelopment #HigherEducation #Malaysia

 

Anak Susah Belajar Bukan Semestinya Tak Pandai: Kenal Pasti Masalah Sebelum Cari Penyelesaian

Sebagai ibu bapa, kita tentu risau apabila melihat anak mula ketinggalan dalam sesuatu subjek.

Matematik susah. Sains tak faham. English kurang yakin. Ulang kaji pula perlu selalu diingatkan.

Reaksi pertama kita mungkin mahu mencari lebih banyak kelas, lebih banyak buku atau lebih banyak latihan.

Tetapi ada satu soalan yang lebih penting untuk ditanya dahulu:

“Apa sebenarnya yang menyebabkan anak saya susah belajar?”

Kerana masalah yang berbeza memerlukan cara membantu yang berbeza.

1. Mungkin anak belum memahami konsep asas

Ada pelajar yang boleh mengikuti penerangan guru di dalam kelas, tetapi apabila perlu menjawab sendiri, mereka mula keliru.

Dalam keadaan begini, memberikan lebih banyak soalan belum tentu menyelesaikan masalah.

Anak mungkin perlukan peluang untuk mengulang penerangan, melihat contoh lain dan memahami konsep tersebut mengikut kemampuan sendiri.

Platform pembelajaran seperti E-Tuition menyediakan video pembelajaran yang boleh diulang, manakala Guru AI boleh digunakan sebagai pembantu apabila pelajar memerlukan penerangan tambahan.

2. Mungkin anak faham, tetapi kurang latihan

Situasinya berbeza jika anak sebenarnya memahami konsep tetapi masih kerap melakukan kesilapan.

Di sini, latihan yang konsisten lebih penting.

Tak semestinya perlu belajar berjam-jam setiap hari. Rutin yang kecil tetapi konsisten boleh menjadi permulaan yang lebih mudah.

Contohnya, pilih satu topik dan fokus pada latihan berkaitan sebelum bergerak kepada tahap yang lebih mencabar.

E-Tuition menggunakan latihan interaktif yang bergerak daripada tahap lebih mudah kepada lebih sukar, dengan semakan dan penerangan selepas latihan.

3. Mungkin masalah sebenar ialah konsistensi

Ada juga anak yang sebenarnya boleh belajar sendiri, tetapi sukar untuk memulakan.

Hari ini belajar. Esok tidak. Minggu peperiksaan baru mula mengejar.

Dalam keadaan ini, menambah lebih banyak bahan mungkin bukan jawapannya.

Cuba bina rutin yang mudah terlebih dahulu.

Contohnya, 15–20 minit pada waktu yang sama, fokus kepada satu subjek dan satu tugasan kecil.

Matlamatnya bukan untuk memaksa anak belajar lama, tetapi membantu pembelajaran menjadi satu kebiasaan.

4. Ada anak yang takut bertanya

Kadang-kadang anak diam bukan kerana dia faham.

Dia mungkin malu untuk bertanya, takut soalannya dianggap mudah atau tidak tahu bagaimana hendak menerangkan apa yang dia tidak faham.

Teknologi boleh menjadi satu lagi ruang untuk anak mendapatkan bantuan.

Guru AI dalam E-Tuition, misalnya, direka sebagai pembantu pembelajaran yang boleh membantu pelajar bertanya soalan, memahami konsep dan mendapatkan penerangan langkah demi langkah. Tetapi AI tetap perlu digunakan sebagai pembantu, bukan pengganti guru, usaha pelajar atau pertimbangan manusia.

Jangan mulakan dengan produk. Mulakan dengan anak.

Teknologi pendidikan semakin berkembang. AI juga semakin mudah digunakan.

Tetapi teknologi yang canggih tidak banyak membantu jika kita belum memahami masalah yang hendak diselesaikan.

Sebab itu saya percaya pendekatan yang lebih baik ialah:

Dengar → Faham masalah → Pilih bantuan yang sesuai → Cuba → Pantau

E-Tuition sendiri sepatutnya dilihat sebagai pembelajaran tambahan yang menyokong sekolah dan guru, bukan menggantikannya. Ia membantu menyediakan pembelajaran yang lebih sistematik di rumah melalui video, latihan, Guru AI, kelas langsung dan pemantauan kemajuan.

Dan kita juga tidak sepatutnya menjanjikan bahawa penggunaan sesuatu platform akan menjamin keputusan peperiksaan tertentu. Hasil pembelajaran bergantung pada banyak perkara termasuk kesesuaian, penggunaan, konsistensi dan usaha pelajar.

Tiga soalan untuk ditanya malam ini

Jika anda seorang ibu atau bapa, cuba berbual dengan anak dan tanyakan:

“Subjek apa yang paling susah sekarang?”

Kemudian:

“Susah sebab tak faham, atau faham tapi perlukan lebih banyak latihan?”

Dan akhirnya:

“Apa satu perkara kecil yang kita boleh cuba minggu ini?”

Tak perlu selesaikan semuanya dalam satu hari.

Mulakan dengan satu anak, satu masalah dan satu langkah kecil.

Kerana dalam pendidikan, matlamat kita bukan sekadar menambah kelas atau menggunakan lebih banyak teknologi.

Matlamatnya ialah membantu anak belajar dengan lebih sistematik, memahami apa yang dipelajari dan perlahan-lahan membina keyakinan untuk belajar sendiri.

---

Saya berkongsi tentang penggunaan AI dan teknologi pendidikan secara praktikal untuk membantu ibu bapa dan pelajar. Jika anda sedang cuba memahami cabaran pembelajaran anak, mulakan dengan mengenal pasti masalahnya dahulu — kemudian barulah cari alat yang sesuai.

#AIEdupreneur #ETuition #GuruAI #PendidikanDigital #PembelajaranAnak #AIinEducation

Miscommunication: The Silent Killer of Organisations, Businesses and Relationships

 

Miscommunication: The Silent Killer of Organisations, Businesses and Relationships

By Coach Amirul Iskandar Mannan

One of the biggest myths in the workplace is this:

Most organisational problems are caused by incompetent people.

In reality, many problems begin much earlier.

They begin with miscommunication.

This morning, I read an excellent article by Dr. Ruzaimi Mat Rani in Utusan Malaysia titled:

"Kos Salah Faham Lebih Mahal Daripada Kos Latihan."

The title immediately caught my attention because it reflects something I have observed repeatedly throughout my years of conducting training programmes across government agencies, corporations and educational institutions.

The Hidden Cost Nobody Calculates

When organisations discuss costs, they usually think about:

• Training budgets
• Software licences
• Equipment
• Salaries
• Consultancy fees

Very few calculate the hidden cost of misunderstanding.

Think about what happens when communication is unclear.

A manager gives instructions.

Each department interprets them differently.

The work is completed on time.

Yet the outcome is not what was intended.

Nobody was lazy.

Nobody lacked commitment.

Everyone worked hard.

The problem was that everyone understood something different.

The cost?

• Projects delayed
• Work repeated
• Customers disappointed
• Teams frustrated
• Money wasted
• Trust reduced

These hidden costs often exceed the investment needed to improve communication in the first place.

Technology Is Not the Answer

Today, organisations are investing heavily in AI.

I am a strong advocate of AI because I have seen how it transforms productivity when used responsibly.

However, AI does not solve unclear thinking.

AI cannot fix ambiguous instructions.

AI cannot replace leadership.

AI cannot replace shared understanding.

As I often remind participants during my training:

AI helps us work faster. Human communication ensures we work in the same direction.

Both are necessary.

Communication Is a Leadership Skill

One lesson I have learned over the years is that effective communication is not about speaking more.

It is about ensuring people understand the same message in the same way.

That is why I am passionate about Visual Communication.

When ideas are made visible, people misunderstand less.

Meetings become clearer.

Planning becomes easier.

Teams align faster.

Decision-making improves.

Visuals do not replace conversations.

They strengthen them.

A Small Investment That Creates Big Returns

Many organisations hesitate to invest in communication training because they see it as an expense.

I see it differently.

Every misunderstanding prevented is time saved.

Every clear instruction is productivity gained.

Every aligned team is a competitive advantage.

Perhaps the real question is not:

"Can we afford communication training?"

Perhaps it is:

"Can we afford the cost of continued misunderstanding?"

Final Thoughts

Congratulations to Dr. Ruzaimi Mat Rani for writing such a timely and thought-provoking article.

Its message serves as an important reminder for all of us.

Whether we are leaders, educators, managers, parents or team members, our success depends not only on what we say, but on what others truly understand.

As organisations embrace AI, digital transformation and new technologies, let us not forget one timeless truth:

Clear communication remains one of the greatest competitive advantages any organisation can have.

---

Call to Action

If your organisation is looking to improve communication, reduce misunderstandings and help teams collaborate more effectively, I'd be happy to explore how my programmes on Visual Communication, Visual PIDO, and AI for Better Workplace Communication can help.

📩 Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out via WhatsApp.

AI for Secretaries & Administrative Professionals: Work Smarter Without Losing the Human Touch

 

AI for Secretaries & Administrative Professionals: Work Smarter Without Losing the Human Touch

For many years, the role of administrative professionals has been about much more than paperwork.

They organise people.
They manage information.
They ensure communication flows smoothly.
They become the backbone of every organisation.

Today, artificial intelligence is changing how many of these tasks can be completed.

The question is no longer whether AI will become part of the workplace.

The question is whether we learn to use it effectively and responsibly.

In this upcoming two-day public programme organised by Educ8 Technology, participants will learn practical applications that can immediately improve their daily work.

Among the topics covered are:

• Using AI to prepare professional meeting minutes.
• Writing executive-quality emails and reports.
• Building an AI Administrative Copilot.
• Creating reusable prompt libraries.
• Standardising workplace documentation.
• Developing a practical 30-day implementation plan.

The objective is not to replace administrative professionals.

Instead, it is to reduce repetitive work so that people can focus on what AI cannot replace: judgement, relationships, professionalism and service.

If you're looking to prepare yourself or your administrative team for the future of work, this programme is designed for immediate workplace application.

Programme Details

📅 9–10 September 2026

📍 Educ8 Training Centre, Petaling Jaya

✅ 100% HRDC Claimable

For registration or enquiries:
https://wa.link/51uxk2

I look forward to meeting many of you there.

Think Better. Work Smarter. Create Impact.