Relevance In a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing and increasingly capable of replicating human tasks, it is crucial that we pause to consider our understanding of what it means to be human. This piece questions the assumption that human essence can be reduced to a series of tasks and activities, and explores the fundamental differences between humans and machines, even when they appear to be performing the same functions. By delving into the philosophical, historical, and personal dimensions of this issue, we reveal the unique qualities that define our humanity, such as our ability to find meaning, purpose, and connection in our lives and work. This will help you navigate, and make sense of, the complex relationship between technology and humanity in an age of rapid change.
The question is asked, "“Will AI eventually be able to do whatever humans can do?” Maybe the follow up question should be, how long will we allow the limitations of the scientific method to define human existence?
I am not enamored with AI, even as I see its potential. I am more interested though in the unrealized potential of human beings. As a leadership guy for forty years, one of the strong conclusions that I reached early on was that the greatest limitation on human potential was the structure of society and its institutions. The scientific revolution paired with the industrial revolution organized human development and social interaction to be a machine-like set of transactions. Human relations became a zero-sum game of extraction and exploitation. Human society didn't survive past centuries living this way. Relationships of trust and mutuality formed the center of communities. Our present age, in my opinion, is an aberration, not a predictor of the future.
My expectation is that AI will ultimately be treated like other technological innovations. There is a lot of promise, but eventually calls for efficiency and mass application will mean that its potential will be never be fulfilled. Possibly, centuries from now, the modern age will be known for its missed opportunities instead of its advanced technologies.
The question is asked, "“Will AI eventually be able to do whatever humans can do?” Maybe the follow up question should be, how long will we allow the limitations of the scientific method to define human existence?
I am not enamored with AI, even as I see its potential. I am more interested though in the unrealized potential of human beings. As a leadership guy for forty years, one of the strong conclusions that I reached early on was that the greatest limitation on human potential was the structure of society and its institutions. The scientific revolution paired with the industrial revolution organized human development and social interaction to be a machine-like set of transactions. Human relations became a zero-sum game of extraction and exploitation. Human society didn't survive past centuries living this way. Relationships of trust and mutuality formed the center of communities. Our present age, in my opinion, is an aberration, not a predictor of the future.
My expectation is that AI will ultimately be treated like other technological innovations. There is a lot of promise, but eventually calls for efficiency and mass application will mean that its potential will be never be fulfilled. Possibly, centuries from now, the modern age will be known for its missed opportunities instead of its advanced technologies.