Opening: To Vibe, to Be In the Flow, in the Zone
I used Google and OpenAI to generate this image in under 2 minutes. I uploaded a photo and added the prompt: “A person sitting at a work desk with DJ tools, he is vibing. Realistic. Orange colors.” Then, using OpenAI, I layered the text on the shirt: “Yesha is Vibing.”
This is a typical example of vibing in the context of image generation — fast, creative, and collaborative.
Andrej Karpathy (AI expert, OpenAI co-founder, ex-Tesla) once tweeted something that captures the essence of vibing in the context of programming:
“The best feeling in programming is when you’re just vibing — code is flowing, everything is working, and you’re in the zone.”
Programming is a standout example of a domain transformed by AI: its structured logic is ideal for AI to analyze, generate, and enhance code. Tasks like refactoring, documentation, and debugging are now faster and more reliable. With AI, programming becomes less about syntax and more about design and thinking. (I’m closely watching this shift and will share more soon.)
One Example: Voice Brainstorming With OpenAI
Yesha said:
“Okay, so there’s a new term that people are now talking about called vibing. Can you define it in two sentences?”
ChatGPT said:
Sure! “Vibing” refers to a state of relaxed, positive energy where someone feels in sync with their surroundings or others. It’s often used to describe a harmonious, enjoyable atmosphere or connection.
Yesha said:
“OK.”
ChatGPT said:
Great! Anything else you’d like to add
You said:
“Give me a section about being in the zone.”
ChatGPT said:
Sure! “Being in the zone” refers to a state of intense focus and productivity where everything feels effortless. It’s often associated with peak performance, where time seems to fly by, and you’re fully immersed in the task.
You said:
“What is the academic source for that?”
ChatGPT said:
A classic source on the “flow” state, which is akin to being “in the zone,” is Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. This work explores the conditions and benefits of engaging deeply in an activity.
You said:
“Excellent. So give me two or three sentences on the nature of work in the future, which involves flow that stems from using the tools.”
ChatGPT said:
Certainly! In the future, work could be characterized by frequent “flow” states, thanks to AI tools that automate mundane tasks. This would allow people to focus on creative, high-level problem-solving, fostering innovation. Ultimately, this shift could lead to more fulfilling and productive work experiences.
Key Examples: Vibing Based on Data Types
- Vibing with Text — tools like OpenAI Canvas (my favorite), Notion AI, and Claude Artifacts turn writing into a true back-and-forth process with AI. These tools help draft, revise, and reframe ideas instantly, making the act of writing faster, smarter, and more fun.
- Vibing with images — tools like Midjourney, new OpenAi image tools, and Adobe Firefly enable rapid creation and iteration of visuals from text prompts. Designers now explore styles, concepts, and variations at unprecedented speed.
- Vibing with video — AI tools like Runway, Pika, and Synthesia enable rapid video creation from text, voice, or static images. Storyboarding, editing, and even generating actors or scenes can now be done collaboratively with AI.
- Vibing with music — tools like Suno, Aiva, and Udio let creators generate original compositions from text prompts or mood settings. AI collaboration allows Musicians to explore melody, genre, and structure in real time.
- Vibing with voice — tools like ElevenLabs, Descript, and OpenAI.fm make it easy to generate, clone, or edit voices with stunning realism. From podcasts to narration, creators can now fine-tune tone, pacing, and emotion on the fly. (I’m a mega user of OpenAI voice pal — and I use my walks to explore new ideas with it).
The Downsides of Vibing
As usual, with great power come significant problems:
- Overconfidence – Feeling too “in the zone” can lead to overlooking mistakes.
- Lack of Critical Thinking – Flow can suppress questioning and reflection.
- Tunnel Vision – You might miss broader context or better alternatives.
- Burnout Risk – Constantly chasing that feeling may lead to exhaustion.
- Overreliance on Emotion – Decisions may become feeling-based, not fact-based.
- Exclusion of Others – Group vibing can unintentionally leave others out.
This initial set of problems is just the start — it reminds me of the (mis)joy of agile, which ignored longer-term considerations.
For a great review, see Claude Code saved us 97% of the work on the first try. Then, it failed utterly.
Actions for Leaders
On the organizational level:
- Share the term “vibing,” its meaning, and its modalities.
- Allow for encouraged individual vibing time (with open as well as focused goals)
- Allow for small team vibing time where 2–3 people + AI work together.
- Remember: Vibing does not replace architecture, rigor, testing, and robustness. In fact, vibing requires spending a lot of time on these non-ephemeral qualities.
On a personal level, allocate time to learning AI using the “T” method:
- Horizontally — Stay aware of the growing ecosystem of AI tools (e.g., follow our free MindLi AI LinkedIn group).
- Vertically — Choose one tool to master deeply. For me, that’s OpenAI Canvas — it reduced 6-hour writing tasks to just 2 hours and keeps evolving as my go-to writing space. (See what the canvas feature in ChatGPT is and how I use it).
