Our brains are vector databases — here’s why that’s helpful when using AI

In 2014, a breakthrough at Google transformed how machines understand language: The self-attention model. This innovation allowed AI to grasp context and meaning in human communication by treating words as mathematical vectors — precise numerical representations that capture relationships between ideas. Today, this vector-based approach has evolved into sophisticated vector databases, systems that mirror how our own brains process and retrieve information. This convergence of human cognition and AI technology isn’t just changing how machines work — it’s redefining how we need to communicate with them.

How our brains already think in vectors

Think of vectors as GPS coordinates for ideas. Just as GPS uses numbers to locate places, vector databases use mathematical coordinates to map concepts, meanings and relationships. When you search a vector database, you’re not just looking for exact matches — you’re finding patterns and relationships, just as your brain does when recalling a memory. Remember searching for your lost car keys? Your brain didn’t methodically scan every room; it quickly accessed relevant memories based on context and similarity. This is exactly how vector databases work.

The three core skills, evolved

To thrive in this AI-augmented future, we need to evolve what I call the three core skills: reading, writing and querying. While these may sound familiar, their application in AI communication requires a fundamental shift in how we use them. Reading becomes about understanding both human and machine context. Writing transforms into precise, structured communication that machines can process. And querying — perhaps the most crucial new skill — involves learning to navigate vast networks of vector-based information in ways that combine human intuition with machine efficiency.

Mastering vector communication

Consider an accountant facing a complex financial discrepancy. Traditionally, they’d rely on their experience and manual searches through documentation. In our AI-augmented future, they’ll use vector-based systems that work like an extension of their professional intuition. As they describe the issue, the AI doesn’t just search for keywords — it understands the problem’s context, pulling from a vast network of interconnected financial concepts, regulations and past cases. The key is learning to communicate with these systems in a way that leverages both human expertise and AI’s pattern-recognition capabilities.

But mastering these evolved skills isn’t about learning new software or memorizing prompt templates. It’s about understanding how information connects and relates— thinking in vectors, just like our brains naturally do. When you describe a concept to AI, you’re not just sharing words; you’re helping it navigate a vast map of meaning. The better you understand how these connections work, the more effectively you can guide AI systems to the insights you need.

Taking action: Developing your core skills for AI

Ready to prepare yourself for the AI-augmented future? Here are concrete steps you can take to develop each of the three core skills:

Strengthen your reading

Reading in the AI age requires more than just comprehension — it demands the ability to quickly process and synthesize complex information. To improve:

Study two new words daily from technical documentation or AI research papers. Write them down and practice using them in different contexts. This builds the vocabulary needed to communicate effectively with AI systems.

Read at least two to three pages of AI-related content daily. Focus on technical blogs, research summaries or industry publications. The goal isn’t just consumption but developing the ability to extract patterns and relationships from technical content.

Practice reading documentation from major AI platforms. Understanding how different AI systems are described and explained will help you better grasp their capabilities and limitations.

Evolve your writing

Writing for AI requires precision and structure. Your goal is to communicate in a way that machines can accurately interpret.

Study grammar and syntax intentionally. AI language models are built on patterns, so understanding how to structure your writing will help you craft more effective prompts.

Practice writing prompts daily. Create three new ones each day, then analyze and refine them. Pay attention to how slight changes in structure and word choice affect AI responses.

Learn to write with query elements in mind. Incorporate database-like thinking into your writing by being specific about what information you’re requesting and how you want it organized.

Master querying

Querying is perhaps the most crucial new skill for AI interaction. It’s about learning to ask questions in ways that leverage AI’s capabilities:

Practice writing search queries for traditional search engines. Start with simple searches, then gradually make them more complex and specific. This builds the foundation for AI prompting.

Study basic SQL concepts and database query structures. Understanding how databases organize and retrieve information will help you think more systematically about information retrieval.

Experiment with different query formats in AI tools. Test how various phrasings and structures affect your results. Document what works best for different types of requests.

The future of human-AI collaboration

The parallels between human memory and vector databases go deeper than simple retrieval. Both excel at compression, reducing complex information into manageable patterns. Both organize information hierarchically, from specific instances to general concepts. And both excel at finding similarities and patterns that might not be obvious at first glance.

This isn’t just about professional efficiency — it’s about preparing for a fundamental shift in how we interact with information and technology. Just as literacy transformed human society, these evolved communication skills will be essential for full participation in the AI-augmented economy. But unlike previous technological revolutions that sometimes replaced human capabilities, this one is about enhancement. Vector databases and AI systems, no matter how advanced, lack the uniquely human qualities of creativity, intuition, and emotional intelligence.

The future belongs to those who understand how to think and communicate in vectors — not to replace human thinking, but to enhance it. Just as vector databases combine precise mathematical representation with intuitive pattern matching, successful professionals will blend human creativity with AI’s analytical power. This isn’t about competing with AI or simply learning new tools — it’s about evolving our fundamental communication skills to work in harmony with these new cognitive technologies.

As we enter this new era of human-AI collaboration, our goal isn’t to out-compute AI but to complement it. The transformation begins not with mastering new software, but with understanding how to translate human insight into the language of vectors and patterns that AI systems understand. By embracing this evolution in how we communicate and process information, we can create a future where technology enhances rather than replaces human capabilities, leading to unprecedented levels of creativity, problem-solving and innovation.

Khufere Qhamata is a research analyst, author of Humanless Work: How AI Will Transform, Destroy And Change Life Forever and the founder of Qatafa AI.