What’s good everyone? Hope you've all been well. As we navigate an increasingly AI-powered world, I've been thinking about what truly differentiates human intelligence from artificial intelligence. This week, we'll explore the cultivation of taste as a uniquely human capability and examine some interesting developments in crypto adoption that could reshape how we think about digital transactions. Fun stuff, right? Don’t worry we gon’ be alright (that line will make more sense at the end of the newsletter ;)) 

The Art of Taste in an AI World

I was catching up with a friend last week, discussing the rise of AI art generators and language models. He asked an interesting question: "What skills should we focus on developing in a world where AI can generate content instantly?" It reminded me of something Steve Jobs once said about taste being the defining factor in Apple's success:

"The only problem with Microsoft is they just have no taste... I don't mean that in a small way, I mean that in a big way, in the sense that they don't think of original ideas, and they don't bring much culture into their products."

Jobs wasn't just being critical – he was highlighting something fundamental about human capability that feels especially relevant today: the ability to cultivate taste. Rick Rubin, the legendary music producer, echoes this sentiment in his book "The Creative Act," where he describes taste as "the sum of all our experiences, preferences, and beliefs... It's what allows us to recognize quality and make meaningful choices."

This ability to develop refined taste – to discern what's truly meaningful, beautiful, or valuable – might be one of our most important advantages in an AI-driven world. While AI can generate endless variations of content, it lacks the lived experience and cultural context that informs human taste. It can analyze patterns but cannot truly understand why something resonates on a deeper, cultural level.

Crypto Goes Mainstream: Apple x Coinbase

Remaining with taste-making institutions, Apple's recent partnership with Coinbase marks an interesting shift in how mainstream technology companies are approaching crypto. The integration of Apple Pay into Coinbase's platform isn't just about making crypto purchases more convenient – it's about legitimizing digital assets in the eyes of mainstream consumers.

The timing feels significant, coming amid a notable surge in crypto prices--most notably with Bitcoin passing the allusive $100k mark. Echoing the words of the late Charlie Munger, the first $100k is the hardest. But beyond the price action, this move represents something more fundamental: the gradual normalization of cryptocurrency as a payment method. When a company like Apple, known for its careful curation of user experience, embraces crypto, it signals a shift in how digital assets are perceived.

The parallels here with the early days of internet adoption are striking. Just as email went from being a tech enthusiast's tool to an everyday necessity, we might be watching cryptocurrency transition from a speculative asset to a practical financial tool. 

What makes this timing particularly interesting is how it reflects a broader legitimization of cryptocurrency by traditional financial institutions. The approval of Bitcoin ETFs at the start of 2024 marked a watershed moment, signaling Wall Street's formal embrace of digital assets. This institutional acceptance has been further amplified by shifting political winds – particularly Donald Trump's emergence as a crypto advocate and his appointment of David Sacks as AI and Crypto Czar. Apple and Coinbase's partnership isn't happening in isolation; it's part of a larger narrative where cryptocurrency is moving from the financial periphery to the mainstream, backed by both Silicon Valley's innovation and Wall Street's institutional weight.

Kendrick’s Clinic on Taste

These threads – taste cultivation and technological adoption – point to something crucial about our future. As AI becomes more capable at generating and processing information, our ability to discern quality, recognize genuine innovation, and make thoughtful choices becomes increasingly valuable. To understand what this looks like in practice, we need look no further than one of our generation's most discerning artists.

Kendrick Lamar's career offers a masterclass in how human taste and discernment drive innovation in ways that algorithms simply cannot replicate. Like Jobs at Apple or the early crypto pioneers, Lamar understood that true innovation isn't just about having new tools – it's about knowing how to use them in service of something meaningful.

Throughout his discography, Kendrick has demonstrated what refined taste looks like in action. Consider how on "good kid, m.A.A.d city," he didn't just sample G-funk, he reimagined it to tell complex narratives about youth and survival. When he incorporated jazz on "To Pimp A Butterfly," it wasn't just for sonic experimentation – it was a deliberate choice that connected his message to a legacy of Black artistic expression. Even his more commercially successful "DAMN." showed how discerning taste can bridge experimental artistry with mainstream appeal. His album, "Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers," perhaps best exemplifies why human discernment will remain crucial in an AI age. The album's piano-driven exploration of generational trauma required not just musical ability, but the taste to know which elements would resonate most deeply with us.

On his latest body of work, GNX, Kendrick takes us on a varied and succinct ride around the West Coast providing us with the traditional G-funk sounds that has come to characterise the region all while stopping to pick up some newer artists from across LA. He links up yet again to collaborate with former label-mate SZA on “Luther” and “Gloria” but also addresses and reminds us that when he questioned the merit of a big three—he really did mean it was only just him at the top of the mountain. I was on a journey to Abu Dhabi from Dubai and saw this tape take over the entire trip. “man at the garden” is a particular favourite which people are speculating is a nod to Nas—one of the only rappers to publicly celebrate Kendrick on his half-time super bowl performance selection. With stunning productions and piercing lyrics, Kendrick’s taste palette allows him to add another stellar tape to his GOAT-worthy discography.

This is the kind of discernment that becomes increasingly valuable in our AI-driven world, whether we're talking about creating art, developing technology, or building financial systems. While AI can generate endless possibilities, it takes human taste – informed by experience, culture, and understanding – to know which possibilities are worth pursuing.

Looking ahead, our competitive advantage won't just be in what we can create, but in our ability to recognize and cultivate what truly matters. Whether you're a tech entrepreneur like Jobs, a financial innovator in the crypto space, or an artist like Kendrick, success will increasingly depend on that uniquely human ability to develop and trust our taste.

Until next week. Peace.