A simple tool for sense-making in an AI world

If artificial intelligence can increasingly do the thinking for us, a more important question emerges: what kind of thinking do we still need to practice as humans, and especially as leaders?

That question has been sitting with me for a while. AI is accelerating analysis, synthesis, and production at a remarkable pace. What it does not do for us is decide what matters. Making sense of signals, trade-offs, and implications is still very much a human responsibility.

That is the lens through which I approached Algo Deck.

How I came across Algo Deck

I first noticed Algo Deck mentioned in a newsletter by my friend Stephen Anderson. It immediately caught my attention, not because it promised to teach coding, but because it positioned itself as a way to explore mental models, algorithms, and data structures in a more approachable, tangible form.

At a time when many of us are trying to keep up with fast-moving technology through courses, books, and articles, I found the premise refreshing. A small, physical deck of cards felt like a deliberate slowdown. Something you could pick up, explore non-linearly, and return to when needed.

What Algo Deck is

Algo Deck is a pocket-sized deck of 54 cards, each covering a concept drawn from computer science, mathematics, or science. You will find cards on topics such as algorithms, data structures, and commonly used technical concepts that increasingly show up in everyday conversations about technology and AI.

Each card has two sides:

• One side features a distinctive illustration
• The other side provides a concise, human-readable explanation of the concept

The writing is intentionally accessible. These are not dense academic definitions. The goal is to give you a usable mental model you can grasp quickly, not to turn you into a computer scientist overnight.

Why cards, not a book

The format is not a gimmick. Cards change how you engage with information.

Unlike a book, Algo Deck does not assume a linear reading path. You can:

• Pick a card at random and explore a concept out of curiosity
• Focus on topics relevant to a problem you are currently dealing with
• Use the illustrations as prompts and only flip the card once something resonates

For me, this makes Algo Deck a strong complement to more traditional learning materials. It fits naturally into short gaps of time and supports exploratory learning rather than demanding long, focused study sessions.

Using Algo Deck in practice

There is no single “correct” way to use the deck. Some practical ways it fits into real work include:

• Learning and recall: Using the cards as lightweight flashcards to familiarise yourself with key concepts
• Problem framing: Pulling a few cards when you feel stuck and using them as lenses to rethink a challenge
• Shared language: Building confidence in conversations where technical terms like neural networks or encoding are used frequently

What stood out to me is how the combination of short explanations and visuals helps with retention. Seeing a concept, reading a short explanation, and connecting the two makes it easier to remember later when the term reappears in a meeting or discussion.

A quick example

Two cards I highlighted in my review were Neural Network and Encoding.

Rather than diving into technical depth, the cards explain these ideas in plain language. A neural network is described through the problem it tries to solve and the idea of learning through examples. Encoding is framed as the challenge of representing information efficiently using limited symbols.

You are not expected to implement anything after reading the card. Instead, you walk away with a clearer picture of what the concept is about and why it exists. The illustrations reinforce that understanding and make the ideas easier to recall.

Who Algo Deck is for

Algo Deck is not for everyone, and that is a good thing.

It is likely to resonate with:

• Designers, product leaders, and facilitators working with complex systems
• Leaders who want to improve their technical literacy without becoming engineers
• Curious generalists building a broader mental toolkit for sense-making

If you are looking for step-by-step tutorials, ready-made frameworks, or deep technical instruction, this deck will probably feel too light. If, however, you value quick, visual, digestible explanations that help you stay oriented in a technical world, it fits nicely into a personal learning toolkit.

Final thoughts

Algo Deck does not promise transformation. It does something more modest and, in many ways, more useful.

It helps you:

• Get to the point quickly
• Build familiarity with important concepts
• Use visuals to support understanding and retention

In an environment where information is abundant and AI can generate answers instantly, tools that support sense-making rather than speed are increasingly valuable. Algo Deck is one of those tools.

If you are on a similar journey of continuous learning and sense-making, it is a thoughtful addition to the mix.