How to Read Smarter with AI (Without Losing Your Soul)
August 1, 2025 • By Yum Gong
A tweet recently went viral: "Reading books is now a waste of time. AI reasoning models can distill key insights and tell you exactly how to implement them based on what they know about you." The replies section exploded faster than a TikTok drama. Team AI was like "Finally someone said it!" while Team Books was screaming "This is intellectual blasphemy!"
But honestly, this tweet is like those "One weird trick solves everything" ads—sounds smart, completely misses the point.
Why Everyone Thinks Reading is a "Waste of Time"
Let's be real: many people DO think reading is a waste of time, but it's not the books' fault—it's because the education system basically trained us wrong.
Think about school: Teacher assigns The Great Gatsby, you're thinking "What's gonna be on the test?" Teacher assigns a business book, you're like "Just give me the 3 steps to success." This approach to reading is like using a microscope to watch Netflix—technically possible, but you're completely missing the experience.
Now when you want to learn "how to be more productive," you spend 8 hours grinding through a book for answers. And honestly? That IS pretty dumb—just Google it, check Reddit, or ask an AI reader. You'll get the steps in 5 minutes.
But Here's Where That Tweet Goes Wrong
Books aren't for "extracting information" any more than Netflix is for "getting plot summaries."
The real value of books is twofold:
- Complete worldview downloads - Like watching the full movie vs reading spoilers
- Identity transformation - Not teaching you what to do, but turning you into the kind of person who naturally does these things
Say you want to become more entrepreneurial. AI can give you "10 Steps to Start a Business," but it can't silence that voice in your head saying "stable jobs are safer." That requires rewiring your mental operating system through deep reading—something AI learning can't quite pull off yet.
AI's Superpowers and Epic Fails
Credit where it's due—AI is absolutely crushing it at information processing:
- Knows literally everything that's been published
- Processes info faster than your brain can say "loading..."
- Personalizes everything like a creepy-but-helpful stalker
But AI has some major blind spots:
1. Only handles "known" information AI is like that friend who's read everything but never has original thoughts. It can't tell you the stuff that's "between the lines" or what the author was really thinking—and that's often the most valuable part.
2. Can't solve the "knowing vs doing" problem People hoard information like they're prepping for an apocalypse—not to use it, but to feel productive. AI can dump all the knowledge in the world on you, but you'll still end up doom-scrolling instead of taking action.
How AI-Native Readers Actually Do It Right
Smart AI-native readers don't pick sides—they level up the whole game:
Layer 1: AI-Enhanced Consumption
Use AI as your reading buddy:
- Ask questions while reading (like live-tweeting but useful)
- Get explanations for confusing concepts
- Request real-world examples for abstract theories
This is read with AI on steroids—not having AI read FOR you, but having it read WITH you. Our AI reading assistant is designed exactly for this: non-intrusive enhancement that keeps you in control.
Layer 2: AI-Assisted Digestion
After reading, use AI to connect ideas across different books, generate personalized action plans, and test your understanding with custom quizzes.
Battle-Tested Strategies: How to Read with AI
Step 1: Setup Get the PDF, find an AI that can handle documents (won't recommend specific ones—they update faster than iPhone models).
Step 2: Reading Buddy Mode Treat AI like your book club partner. Ask questions like "Yo AI, this concept is confusing AF, can you give me a real example?" or "How does this connect to that other book I read?" or even "Is the author just making stuff up here?"
This is exactly what our talk to books feature does - highlight any text and immediately start a conversation with AI about it.
Step 3: Deep Dive Digestion Post-reading AI assistance:
- Summarize key points (but don't skip the reading!)
- Design implementation plans
- Connect everything to your actual goals
Writing: The Ultimate Understanding Test
Feynman said if you can't explain something simply, you don't understand it. With AI, you can:
- Write out your understanding and have AI spot the gaps
- Use AI to organize your messy thoughts
- Translate complex concepts into human language
It's like having a writing coach who never sleeps and doesn't judge your rough drafts.
The Bottom Line: Don't Fall for the Hype
That "reading is waste of time" tweet is like saying "restaurants are pointless, just eat protein bars." Technically efficient, completely missing the point.
Real AI-native readers get it: AI learning is a tool, not a replacement. When you read with AI, you're not cheating—you're upgrading your learning experience.
The smartest move is becoming an AI-powered deep reader, not an AI-replaced shallow information consumer. Because in this AI-everywhere world, information isn't scarce—wisdom is.
And wisdom? That still requires the beautiful collision between human brains and good books. AI can assist, but it can't replace that magic.
So next time someone tells you reading is dead because AI exists, just smile and keep turning pages. You'll be the one with actual understanding while they're stuck with fancy summaries of other people's thoughts.
