Cognitive Flexibility: Renaissance Thinking for the AI Age

• Cognitive Flexibility: It is defined as an individual's ability to flexibly adjust their thinking and behavioral strategies according to environmental changes, situational demands, or new information. It is one of the brain's "executive functions."• Historical Connection: The article draws a parallel between the significant intellectual shifts during the Renaissance, describing it as a "huge cognitive flexibility experiment," emphasizing its importance in interdisciplinary integration and the coexistence of diverse viewpoints. • Criticality in the AI Era: The author argues that in the current AI era, cognitive flexibility once again becomes "the key to survival." It helps people break free from old mindsets, view AI as a tool rather than a threat, and find new roles and value amidst uncertainty. Individuals with sufficient flexibility can quickly learn, integrate across fields, possess emotional resilience, and foster innovation, which is considered the "new survival IQ."