“…AI didn’t kill analytics. It killed analytics middlemen. …”

“…AI didn’t kill analytics. It killed analytics middlemen. …” When the business user can seamlessly — or with very low friction — navigate data through an LLM, ask relevant questions in natural language, and quickly receive highly accurate answers (instead of waiting days or weeks for feedback from the Analytics team), several things will/are happening: Up to 80% of the analytical work as we know it becomes vulnerable. The traditional task of translating business questions into SQL (or other query languages) and present a BI tool to retrieve and provide answers will increasingly be absorbed by AI. Only the top 20% of analysts will truly thrive. These are the ones who deeply understand the business, grasp the causality behind key variables, and know how to ask the right questions — not just the technically correct ones. Decision-making speed will increase significantly. With fewer intermediaries validating data and generating insights, organizations will reduce the cost of making decisions (which is different from the value of the decision itself). The number of analysts will likely decrease substantially. Translator tasks will be automated by AI. However, the analysts who remain will generate multiple times more value than before. Why? Because they will focus less on querying and more on: Framing the right problems Making recommendations Validating assumptions Running scenarios Assigning probabilities to outcomes Connecting insights to business impact In short, they will move from reporting to providing Intelligence. For a deeper perspective on this shift, I strongly recommend reading the well-designed article by Tree Data Point Thursday.

- Pedro

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Football: Physical, Cognitive, Psychological

Football: Physical, Cognitive, Psychological Who doesn’t like a good confirmation bias coming their way—especially when it’s backed by a scientific study? For several years now, I’ve been convinced that to be a great football player, athleticism and coordination are just as important as cognitive abilities and personality traits. The paper in the link, “Decoding the elite soccer player’s psychological profile,” presents an extensive study using a robust set of validated psychological tests across several domains, combined with advanced statistical techniques. It shows that elite football players tend to have: 1-Heightened planning and memory capacities. 2-Enhanced executive functions—especially cognitive flexibility—as well as higher levels of conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness to experience. 3-Lower levels of neuroticism and agreeableness. Football is played across three equally important domains: physical, cognitive, and psychological. Of course, I haven’t looked for studies that might prove me wrong 😊—so for now, I’ll fully enjoy my confirmation bias. P.S. I plan to look more closely at how they applied neural network features to the psychological variables to obtain and interpret their results. The approach seems both interesting and potentially applicable to other fields of study. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2415126122?sma=lanewsletterdekikollaneras_2026.02.13&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=lanewsletterdekikollaneras_2026.02.13

- Pedro

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Structured Thinking

Structured Thinking I came across The Classical Mind Substack article by chance, and it was such a pleasure to read. I’ve always been interested in this topic, as I’ve long felt that my note-taking skills were, at best, subpar — especially when it came to truly benefiting from my notes later on. I constantly faced the dilemma of making them either too extensive or too concise. Most of the time, I couldn’t properly use my notes and had to return to the original source just to make sense of them. Reading this article felt like seeing all the struggles I’ve experienced over time clearly identified and thoughtfully explained through the different methods presented. The “Classical Notes” sheet, in particular, made perfect sense to me. I strongly relate to the method and its approach, and it convinced me that this is something I should genuinely try. I’ve now subscribed to the Substack, and I’m confident you’ll find something valuable in it as well.

- Pedro

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The Birth Equation

The Birth Equation A good friend recently drew my attention to a website that offers a simple exercise — yet one with many layers: If you were born again, how would your life change on average? Every minute, 251 people are born around the world. Spin the globe and see where you might be born — and you’ll begin to understand what your life could look like in terms of: 1-Life expectancy 2-Child mortality 3-Median income 4-Expected years of schooling 5-Passport power 6-Democracy index Then compare those figures with what you can expect by living in your own country. Sounds like a simple exercise? Now start peeling it like an onion. Reflect on each of these dimensions and the dynamics behind them. It will make you pause and think about many things we often take for granted. I hope you enjoy this simple yet powerful exercise as much as I did. https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/birth-lottery

- Pedro

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Europe’s AI Opportunity: From Regulation to Execution

You don’t have to be America or China to win in AI, says Rishi Sunak https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2025/07/16/you-dont-have-to-be-america-or-china-to-win-in-ai-says-rishi-sunak From The Economist “As work by Jeffrey Ding of George Washington University shows, the countries that benefit most from these technologies are not necessarily the ones that develop them first, but the ones that adopt them most widely.” I couldn’t agree more with Rishi Sunak’s vision. In this new AI-driven world, the winners will not simply be the inventors — they will be those who adapt fastest and integrate the technology most effectively. It is, in many ways, a 21st-century version of Darwinism. Not survival of the strongest, but again the survival of the most adaptable. Those who integrate this new paradigm into their day-to-day lives — individuals, companies, and nations — will be the ones who succeed. And in this context, Europe has a real opportunity to position itself far more strongly in the emerging global order than many assume. I am often reminded of a quote from a McKinsey presentation on AI implementation in the corporate world: “For every dollar you spend on technology, you should spend five on change management.” Technology alone is not transformation. Adoption is. Culture is. Leadership is. There are rare moments in history that fundamentally reshape the next 50 years. We are living through one of them. Building on the path outlined by Sunak, Europe should focus above all on implementation. Regulation matters — but it must remain a support function, not the driving force. If the legal and regulatory mindset becomes the primary lens through which we approach AI in Europe, we risk missing a historic opportunity. This is not just about competitiveness. It is about rebalancing global power, strengthening Europe’s voice, and increasing the wellbeing of all Europeans. Being proud that our regulation sets the benchmark is not enough if, at the same time, we inadvertently limit our own capacity to innovate and scale. The time to think strategically is now. Let’s not waste it. (text revised by a llm)

- Pedro

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Resilience at Europe’s Edge

An interesting article by Euronews on the economic growth of the Iberian countries — Portugal and Spain. While their performance is not extraordinary, they can still be considered relative outliers within the European context. It’s encouraging to see this development in Iberia. At the same time, it serves as a cautionary reminder of how subdued and fragile growth remains across much of the rest of Europe. If you’re interested in the topic, follow the link below. (text revised by a llm) https://www.euronews.com/business/2026/01/30/why-are-spain-and-portugal-growing-twice-as-fast-as-the-eurozone

- Pedro

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The Path That Is Most Right

“…I have always taken the path that feels most right. The result is never in question for me — only the path you choose to get there. And there is always one that is most right….” The 2014 film A Most Violent Year was a pleasant surprise. It’s a finely crafted movie built around a compelling storyline and richly developed characters. The film immerses you in the business entanglements of a newcomer trying to establish himself in a highly consolidated industry, crowded with players tied to New York City’s criminal underworld. If you’re looking for a strong story, excellent performances, and sharp dialogue, look no further — this is a film well worth your time. (text revise by a llm) https://www.primevideo.com/region/eu/detail/0RE7FX2RDNWT1KHVKZB26OO03M/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

- Pedro

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