In my last post, I wrote about the realization that changed how I do business. The closest economic analogy for AI (according to AI) isn’t a technological revolution. It’s a mass extinction. No. AI doesn’t wipe out humanity. But it does wipe out most businesses (like 75%+). And it does so in a very short timeframe. My last post was about the extinction event. (If you missed it you can read the whole thing [HERE]) Today is about the survivors. The 25%. Who are the 25%? The answer changed my outlook on business entirely. There have been five mass extinction events in earth’s history (that we know of). In every instance, the living things that survived all had one thing in common… In ecology, there’s an old framework for how species survive: K-selection vs. R-selection. K-selected species reproduce later, produce much fewer offspring, and invest way more into each one. Examples: elephants, whales, gorillas, bears, you. They tend to be larger, live longer, mature slower, and far more invested in learning, development, and parental care. They evolve primarily in relatively stable environments where resources are limited and competition is fierce. Their advantage isn’t speed. It’s optimization. They make fewer bets and invest more heavily in each one. They develop deeper capabilities. They become extremely good at competing within the environment they inhabit. Think of them as nature’s specialists. They pick a game and get very, very good at playing it. Now, compare them to… R-selected species reproduce earlier, produce way more offspring, and invest way less into each one. Examples: mice, rabbits, flies, mosquitoes, frogs, fish that lay lots of eggs. They tend to mature earlier, reproduce faster, have shorter lifespans, and invest far less in parental care. They evolved primarily in unstable, unpredictable, rapidly changing environments. Their advantage isn’t optimization.