--- title: "On Earthquake: Summary & Takeaways | Zenith Clubhouse" url: https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/articles/on-earthquake description: "Gilad argues that the current wave of artificial intelligence is not a typical technological improvement cycle that makes existing systems faster or…" lang: en --- Substack · Summary # On Earthquake By Boaz Gilad (https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/boaz-gilad) · April 19, 2026 · 1 min read Gilad argues that the current wave of artificial intelligence is not a typical technological improvement cycle that makes existing systems faster or cheaper, but a fundamental rewriting of the operating system of society, comparable to an earthquake rather than incremental innovation. He warns that many people and organizations are still preparing for and operating within the assumptions of the old world, unaware that the advantages, skills, and business models that mattered previously may shrink rapidly while new, unfamiliar opportunities emerge in unexpected places. Image: Cover image for “On Earthquake”, an essay by Boaz Gilad on Substack (https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/__l5e/assets-v1/37873384-47af-495a-bc35-484bd1fc9b53/on-earthquake.webp) ## What is "On Earthquake" about? Gilad argues that the current wave of artificial intelligence is not a typical technological improvement cycle that makes existing systems faster or cheaper, but a fundamental rewriting of the operating system of society, comparable to an earthquake rather than incremental innovation. He warns that many people and organizations are still preparing for and operating within the assumptions of the old world, unaware that the advantages, skills, and business models that mattered previously may shrink rapidly while new, unfamiliar opportunities emerge in unexpected places. The essay urges readers to actively question whether their current preparation, learning, and skill-building serve the old world or the new one, using the vivid image of 'feeding the horse' when one should be 'learning to fly a spaceship.' Gilad frames the appropriate response not as panic but as deliberate, immediate reorientation: identifying something new to learn, someone relevant to meet, a tool to master, a skill to build, a business model to study, and an outdated assumption to discard. He closes by noting that no one is fully ready for this shift, and that pretending otherwise—rather than admitting unpreparedness and beginning to adapt—is the real disadvantage. In brief ## What are the key takeaways? 1. 01 Gilad frames the current AI shift as a fundamental rewrite of society's operating system, not an incremental improvement cycle. 2. 02 Many people are still preparing for the old world's rules and advantages, which may be rapidly losing relevance. 3. 03 Pretending to already be ready for the shift is the real disadvantage—admit unpreparedness and begin adapting now. This is a summary. Read the complete essay by Boaz Gilad on Substack. Read the full essay on Substack (https://boazgilad.substack.com/p/on-earthquake) Topics - Leadership - Stress & pressure - Growth Questions ## Questions about this essay ### What is "On Earthquake" by Boaz Gilad about? ### What are the key takeaways from "On Earthquake"? ### How can I apply "On Earthquake" this week? ### Where can I read the full "On Earthquake" essay? Keep reading ## Recommended insights Cover image for “On Halftime”, an essay by Boaz Gilad (https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/articles/on-halftime) Substack May 24, 2026 ## On Halftime: https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/articles/on-halftime Summary & key takeaways: https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/articles/on-halftime Cover image for “On R&D”, an essay by Boaz Gilad (https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/articles/on-r-and-d) Substack Sep 13, 2026 ## On R&D: https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/articles/on-r-and-d Summary & key takeaways: https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/articles/on-r-and-d Cover image for “On Sisyphus”, an essay by Boaz Gilad (https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/articles/on-sisyphus) Substack May 3, 2026 ## On Sisyphus: https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/articles/on-sisyphus Summary & key takeaways: https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/articles/on-sisyphus All insights (https://www.zenithclubhouse.com/insights) Invitation only ## The room changes you. Zenith is invitation-only. 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