The more you know about a related topic or a precursor to a new concept, the harder it can be to learn or communicate with others who have a different perspective on that subject. I’ve used the phrase ‘this ain’t that’ to snap people out of a common problem when learning new concepts or even explaining them to others.
As humans, we struggle to learn new concepts, especially when they resemble something we already know or share familiar terminology. The brain loves to map new ideas onto existing knowledge, but in doing so, it misses critical differences.
Think about it: humans and chimpanzees share 98.8% of their DNA and even cats have a 90% genetic overlap with us. Yet, no one would claim a chimpanzee is basically a human, or that a cat is 90% the same as you. Yet the concept you’re explaining likely has even less in common with what they know, though their brain treats it as the same.
A friend of mine often used an analogy of getting directions to listening and learning: If you’ve never been somewhere, you follow directions carefully. But if you think you know the way, even if the roads and landmarks have changed, you stop paying attention and are more likely to get lost. The same happens with learning: familiarity tricks your brain into ignoring key differences, making it easier to misunderstand new concepts.
Ego often blocks learning because people fear looking incompetent or admitting they don’t know something, especially when they think they should. This leads to imposter syndrome, where the mind resists uncomfortable gaps in knowledge. Instead of embracing new information, the ego pushes people to nod along or default to what they already know. True learning requires intellectual humility: the ability to say, “I don’t know, but I’m willing to learn.”
How to overcome this from the learner’s perspective?
I asked another successful person, who always seems to learn, adapt and embrace faster than others, “Why do you get it when so many others don’t?” His response was simple but powerful:
“I don’t think I’m smarter than I am, and I’m not afraid to throw away what made me successful yesterday to learn something new today. So, I assume I don’t know what they’re talking about, and I listen.”
This stuck with me and I have since observed this difference in mindset many times: assuming you don’t know is the key.
I’ve embraced his words of wisdom and have learned from others and through trial and error that I am able to overcome this challenge by applying the following:
· Prioritize learning over proving intelligence– Focus on understanding, not showing what you know.
· Listen without anticipating – Absorb what’s actually being said instead of assuming what’s next.
· Adopt a beginner’s mindset – Assume you don’t know, ask clarifying questions, and seek key differences.
· Summarize in your own words – This forces deeper processing and helps spot misunderstandings.
· Be willing to unlearn – Let go of outdated knowledge and embrace not knowing to learn faster
What can the person explaining or teaching do to help?
To get someone to truly listen, first open their mind by sparking curiosity or urgency. Ask a question that reveals a gap in their knowledge or challenges assumptions:
- “We share 98.8% of our DNA with chimpanzees, yet we’re vastly different. Now imagine how much more different a new concept might be from what you already know.”
- “What if the way you’ve been thinking about this problem is actually holding you back?”
Once they’re engaged, use a mix of techniques to drive real understanding:
- Reword the concept – Break automatic pattern-matching.
- Give specific examples – Make it tangible.
- Use logic trees & diagrams – Visually map out key differences.
- Tell analogies or stories – Highlight distinctions more clearly.
- Have them explain it back – Forces deeper processing.
- Ask disconfirming questions – Challenge their assumptions.
- Slow the pace – Give space for reflection.
By mixing these approaches, you break preconceived notions and foster real learning.
So, what does this have to do with the AI Revolution?
Why connect this topic to people missing out on the AI revolution? Right now, everyone is learning different AI tools (ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Claude, and more) while using the same broad terminology: AI, agents, models, automation. The problem? These words mean different things depending on the context, the technology, and who’s speaking.
For example, Generative AI, Extractive AI, Predictive AI, Symbolic AI, Reinforcement Learning, and other forms may seem similar and do share some commonalities. But the differences between them are far greater than the genetic differences between a human, a chimpanzee, an elephant, and a cat. Those species are actually much closer to each other than these AI technologies are.
The real breakthroughs happen in the differences, not the similarities. If you don’t slow down and truly learn, you’ll think you understand AI, but miss the breakthroughs that matter.
So, my free advice is: When you are learning or when someone is explaining something, override the natural muscle memory and don’t assume you already know it. Open your mind, listen, and learn, without letting ego get in the way. If you’re the one explaining, remember that they’re likely mapping it onto what they already know and tuning you out, so slow down and be patient.
Added Bonus: If you are interested in some of the science behind it…
People often believe they understand new concepts because they resemble what they already know. This illusion of knowledge stems from schema theory, where the brain maps new information onto existing knowledge structures (Bartlett, 1932). However, this can lead to premature cognitive closure, where the brain stops listening for differences.
Studies show learners overestimate their understanding by up to 30% when encountering familiar concepts (Fisher & Keil, 2015). This effect is strongest among those with partial expertise, leading to the curse of knowledge: the assumption that understanding is more complete than it is (Birch & Bloom, 2007).
Schema Assimilation and Accommodation (Piaget, 1952)
- Assimilation – The brain fits new information into existing mental models (schemas), often oversimplifying or distorting it to make it fit.
- Accommodation – The brain restructures schemas when it recognizes a true difference. This is harder and takes more effort.
- When people assume they already “get it,” they assimilate new ideas into old schemas instead of accommodating the differences.
Neuroscientific research confirms that the brain’s pattern-recognition systems prioritize similarity over nuance, reinforcing cognitive shortcuts (Kahana, 2012). To counter this, research suggests using active differentiation (forcing learners to contrast new and old knowledge) to improve comprehension (Roediger & Karpicke, 2006).
Ultimately, while familiarity aids learning, it also creates cognitive blind spots. Effective teaching should emphasize disconfirmation, helping learners focus on what’s truly new rather than what merely seems familiar.