In a world where AI can answer almost anything in seconds, businesses are facing an
unexpected crisis: we are becoming "answer-rich" but "question-poor." And our complacency around getting unchecked answers quickly is even more problematic for our businesses than you might think.
During CuriosityCon, I dug into research on this topic from our State of Curiosity Report, which surveyed nearly 2,000 workers in the United States to find out what was happening with curiosity in the workplace. The findings showed that modern work environments are snuffing out this critical trait that drives innovation.
Watch the full keynote → The cost of losing curiosity
The State of Curiosity in 2026
We’ve identified three major patterns that are widening the "Curiosity Gap" at work:
- The AI middleman: Leaders—defined here as directors and above—are routing their questions through AI at nearly three times the rate of individual contributors (ICs). Half of ICs say they never use AI in place of a teammate; among leaders, it's closer to one in five.
- The scroll reflex: More than a third of workers now accept whatever AI produces without pushing back. This complacency prevents us from questioning assumptions and catching mistakes.
- The efficiency squeeze: We’ve prioritized moving fast over being right. Now, the majority of workers who often consult AI instead of colleagues say they have seen time and money wasted because a project moved forward on assumptions rather than real understanding.
It’s particularly troubling that the pressure to "know" is hitting younger generations hardest. Gen Z and Millennials are 18 points more likely than Boomers to pretend they understand something just to keep things moving.
Explore the report → The State of Curiosity Report
Building "Curiosity Capacity"
Curiosity isn’t just a personality trait; it’s a discipline. High-performing companies build what I call Curiosity Capacity—the willingness to question what we think we know and seek out perspectives that don’t match our own.
While AI is an incredible tool for processing data, it isn't curious. It can’t feel, it doesn’t have empathy, and it can’t understand the "why" behind a customer’s behavior. Real competitive advantage comes from building up your organization’s desire to better understand real human experiences and feedback.
Action Items: Your Curiosity Checklist
To start using curiosity as a competitive advantage today, focus on these five action items:
- Audit the "why": Identify one project where "moving fast" might be masking unresolved assumptions. Ask: "Do I actually understand what's going on here?"
- Route questions to people first: Before asking AI to summarize a problem, pull in a colleague. Build curiosity by involving others in the thinking process.
- Seek out "inconvenient" feedback: Actively look for data that contradicts your beliefs. Talk to your unhappiest customers to find the signals you might be missing.
- Reward the question: Create a culture where "I don't know, let's find out" is a valued response, especially for younger team members feeling performance pressure.
- Use AI to scale, not replace: Use AI to analyze thousands of responses, but never let it replace the act of gathering human feedback in the first place.
The Bottom Line
Innovation happens when you question the status quo. The businesses that win in this era won't be the ones with the best AI. They'll be the ones that stay curious enough to ask better questions. After all, AI can accelerate curiosity, but it cannot create it.
My keynote was full of real-world examples of curiosity saving the day, and a lot more research to help you understand if your organization is cultivating or crushing it. Watch it to see the research in action. Until then, I’ll leave you with this: Nothing gets better until you get curious.
Watch the full session here.
