The Lego problem, revisited

For generations, the rules of Lego were simple: many pieces, all able to connect in many ways, led to many outcomes.

That almost drove the company into bankruptcy, though.

Lego kits saved the business. Each kit has just one way to do the work, follow the instructions carefully. Industrial indoctrination in a box.

While it made Lego plenty of money, it didn’t create a generation of creative thinkers. And following instructions is what most organizations want.

Now that robots and AI are here to follow instructions, though, we might need people who can draw plans, not simply follow them.