AI and You
A Love/Hate Relationship?
Hey there! It’s another beautiful day in the digital age, and today, let’s delve deep into the AI-infused waters of our world. AI might be creeping into your workplace these days. As it does, what will it mean for the future of work and life?
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, perceptions around AI among leaders and businesses span a broad spectrum. At one end, we find those merely “AI-aware,” and at the other, the fully “AI-committed.” From my vantage point, drawn from decades immersed in the technological ebb and flow, companies that don’t swiftly pivot from mere interest to full commitment risk being eclipsed by their competition.
Throughout my three-decade career, I’ve witnessed the cyclical nature of technological adoption and resistance. The dialogues surrounding AI now echo past conversations about mini-computers, local area networks, the internet surge of the late 90s, and the transformative power of big data. It’s a continuation of the dance between innovation and business. But there’s a notable shift this time around. While previous innovations largely automated manual, blue-collar tasks, AI’s reach now extends into the realm of white-collar jobs. As Bob Evans astutely points out, it’s not just factory workers feeling the heat; journalists, broadcasters, lawyers, and other knowledge professionals are grappling with the implications of AI in their fields.
AI Demystified: From Efficient Assistant to Cognitive Marvel
AI is far from a novel concept. For years, we’ve harnessed its capabilities to streamline sectors like telecommunications, transportation, and network planning. Initially, AI largely displaced manual roles—blue-collar workers, bookkeepers, and certain engineering roles. But now, its purview has expanded. Today’s AI is stepping into the shoes of customer service representatives, press release writers, and even actors. Charles Lamanna, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Business Apps and Platform, a sector boasting a hefty $5 billion in business apps revenue, projects that by August 2024, our primary interaction with computing devices will be mediated through AI.
Need a clearer picture of how technology is upending traditional roles? Join me on this reflective journey. Today’s world is underpinned by digital advancements. The local fast-food joint now boasts computerized kiosks, streamlining our orders. Our grocery shopping concludes with intricate interfaces seamlessly connecting databases and payment systems. Air travel? Automated kiosks have simplified baggage check-ins and boarding processes. Our entertainment choices, our shopping decisions—they’re being nudged by algorithmically driven recommendations. This shift is palpable in the labor market as well. A new wave of AI is making inroads, rendering certain jobs obsolete. Roles traditionally filled by graphic designers, call center operators, and software developers are increasingly being overtaken by no-code and low-code AI solutions.
A Reshaped Professional Landscape: The Human Touch in an Automated World
Imagine waking up in a world where your coffee maker knows just how you like your morning brew, your car predicts your schedule, driving you to work, and a virtual AI assistant manages your meetings, emails, and tasks. Sounds like a sci-fi movie, right? But as AI embeds itself into our daily routines, these scenarios are becoming our reality. As we welcome AI’s assistance, we must also address the profound changes it brings to our work and, by extension, our lives.
This same technology also carries a high probability of replacing jobs and even whole industries. Artificial intelligence (AI), is best described as “the ability of a machine to perform cognitive functions that we associate with human minds, such as perceiving, reasoning, learning, interacting with the environment, problem solving, decision-making, and even demonstrating creativity.” The impact of AI on jobs and work is not limited to manual, routine jobs either. Prestigious professions like medicine, finance, and even IT are seeing AI’s impact. The promise is an AI-enhanced efficiency and deeper insights, but the threat? Potential wage inequalities, loss of worker autonomy, and dwindling privacy.
Workers aren't just concerned about job loss; there's an underlying struggle to redefine professional identities. If AI can perform your job tasks, what does that mean for your professional worth?
In an era where machines can compose music, drive cars, and even draft legal contracts, one of the most profound implications of AI is how it nudges us to question our work identity. If our professional value has traditionally been tied to our skills and tasks, how do we redefine ourselves in a world where machines can perform those tasks—often faster and more accurately?
Consider the medical profession. Doctors, for decades, have been the bastions of intricate knowledge about human anatomy and illnesses. However, now we have AI algorithms, like Google's DeepMind, that can diagnose eye diseases with staggering accuracy, surpassing many human experts. While this doesn't render doctors obsolete, it certainly shifts a portion of their traditional identity. Instead of just diagnosticians, doctors now must emphasise their roles as caregivers, counsellors, and human interfaces that understand the emotional and psychosocial facets of health—areas where AI cannot tread.
Or take the realm of journalism, a profession deeply rooted in research, storytelling, and human connection. The Washington Post's AI technology, Heliograf, penned hundreds of articles during the 2016 Rio Olympics. While these articles mainly covered factual and statistical information, it does make one ponder: What happens when AI starts crafting more complex narratives? Journalists will need to delve deeper, focusing on investigative pieces, human-interest stories, and analytical commentaries that require a human touch, intuition, and emotional intelligence.
Then there's the finance sector. Traditionally, stock trading required a deep understanding of markets, intuition, and sometimes, a bit of gut feeling. With the rise of algorithmic trading, many trades are executed by AI, often in fractions of a second. Does this displace the human trader? Not entirely. Instead, it shifts their identity towards strategy, oversight, and understanding the broader economic implications that an AI might miss in its quest for pattern recognition.
The Rise of Soft Skills: Our Human Edge in the Digital Revolution
These transformations don't necessarily mean the obsolescence of human roles but rather a reshaping of them. It underscores the need for professionals to lean into aspects of their jobs that are uniquely human.
Furthermore, as AI tools become more prevalent, there's an increased emphasis on soft skills—creativity, emotional intelligence, teamwork, and leadership. These skills, harder for machines to replicate, become our distinguishing factors. It's not just about what we do, but how we do it, and how we make others feel in the process.
Additionally, work identity in the AI era isn't just about coexisting with machines but also about harnessing them. For instance, architects aren't replaced by AI design tools but can use them to create structures they couldn't have imagined before.
Work, Worth, and Identity: Beyond Job Security to Purpose and Value
As we integrate AI more deeply into our workspaces, we must consider our sense of self in relation to technology. AI is not just another tool or gadget; its implications touch the very core of our identity. As AI increasingly handles tasks we once considered our professional trademarks, we're compelled to reevaluate our significance in the work landscape.
In essence, the rise of AI in the workplace is both a challenge and an opportunity. It nudges us to introspect, asking deep-seated questions about our value, our roles, and our identities. As we sail into this brave new world, the compass we'll need most is adaptability, continuously evolving our identities in tandem with the technological landscape.
AI's transformative potential is a direct product of the digital revolution. Technically speaking, AI refers to machines that mimic cognitive human functions, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. But in layman terms? AI can potentially become the best office assistant you never knew you needed, aiding in managerial decisions, simplifying data analysis, and fostering new levels of human-AI teamwork.
The AI Spectrum: Navigating the Progress from Narrow to Superintelligence
However, AI's benefits aren't without shadows. There are inherent risks that span from the individual level to societal consequences. The AI conversation is a double-edged sword: there’s immense excitement about the tech, but also a pervasive fear of it becoming too dominant.
Delving into the psychological implications, technologies replacing human tasks don't just threaten job security, they make us question our value in the workforce. It's more than just a paycheck; it's our sense of purpose and identity that’s at stake.
AI’s vastness can be confusing. There's a spectrum from narrow AI, optimised for specific tasks; general AI explains self-learning comparable to the intelligence of humans; to the conceptual superintelligence, a form of AI that might one day overshadow all human intellect. Presently, businesses mainly harness narrow AI for specific applications. But the rapid progression in this field means we must be prepared for all eventualities.
AI Impacts on the Future of Work
The Construction and Home Building Industry Impacts
Since I work by day as a General Manager of a sizeable building supply company, and many of our readers are manufacturers, distributors, builders, and trades in residential, commercial, and civil construction, I have done an analysis of AI impacts on our industry.
I Talk to AIs
ChatGPT: G'day Kevin, I just went through the article you sent and the additional table comparing the optimistic and pessimistic views of AI in different sectors. It’s fascinating stuff.
Kevin: Thanks! The contrasting perspectives aim to provide a holistic view of AI's impact. But before we delve into specifics, what's your overall impression?
ChatGPT: The breadth of AI’s influence is truly vast. From general economic impacts to nuanced industry-specific repercussions, it's evident that AI's integration is a double-edged sword. Your article also strikes a balance between potential and peril. The tables, in particular, are a succinct way of showcasing the opposing views.
Kevin: I appreciate that. One thing I wanted to discuss in-depth is the ethical dimension, especially in the context of human-AI relationships in the workplace. Given your perspective, what do you see as the most pressing ethical issue?
ChatGPT: Ethically, a central concern is the potential loss of human autonomy and agency. As AI systems take over tasks and even decision-making processes, humans may feel marginalised or devalued. For instance, in healthcare, while AI can assist in diagnoses and enhance treatment accuracy, it might also overshadow the role of doctors. There's a risk of eroding the trust-based human-to-human interaction which is fundamental in such sectors.
Kevin: Exactly! In healthcare, the patient-doctor relationship is essential. If AI misdiagnoses or provides treatment suggestions, and doctors start relying solely on it without applying their expertise, the consequences could be dangerous. It's an ethical dilemma of trust and responsibility.
ChatGPT: Right, and it’s not just in healthcare. Consider transportation. Autonomous vehicles promise safer and more efficient transport, but the ethical questions arise when these vehicles face decision-making scenarios. Who does the vehicle prioritise in a potential accident – the passenger or pedestrians? And who bears the moral responsibility?
Kevin: It’s like the modern version of the trolley problem.
There is a runaway trolley barreling down the railway tracks. Ahead, on the tracks, there are five people tied up and unable to move. The trolley is headed straight for them. You are standing some distance off in the train yard, next to a lever. If you pull this lever, the trolley will switch to a different set of tracks. However, you notice that there is one person on the side track. You have two (and only two) options:
Do nothing, in which case the trolley will kill the five people on the main track.
Pull the lever, diverting the trolley onto the side track where it will kill one person.
Which is the more ethical option? Or, more simply: What is the right thing to do?
In my journey as a Wisdom Technologist, I've found myself in countless conversations, across diverse platforms, including this very newsletter about the trolley problem. My mission? To stir an awakening in developers and users of our era's deep tech. I want them to grasp the ethical intricacies that spring up from the heart of new technologies. AI exists to serve humans. Human greed and profiteering will always have an unethical cohort. I am calling for us to build a better future with wisdom tech. My concept called “futurognition” says when we build ethically with virtue ethics at every level of the tech-business union, the expenses of cognition (meetings, research, etc.) and problem solving in companies will be better with widsom applied to deep tech and digital. Vice always carries unintended negative consequences.
Let's pause and ponder about autonomous vehicles for a moment. I recall an evening when, sitting on my veranda looking out at the water across the street, I was lost in thought about a futuristic scenario. What if, while cruising down a city lane, a self-driven car faces a split-second decision – a collision seems imminent. Now, here's the catch: the car's software gets to decide the outcome. It's like a modern-day choose-your-own-adventure, but with profound implications. Should the car prioritise those seated inside or the unsuspecting pedestrian crossing the street?
During one of my deep dives, I stumbled upon an intriguing platform - The Moral Machine by MIT Media Lab. It's designed as a public forum, drawing parallels to the age-old trolley dilemma. I was both fascinated and alarmed by the varied ethical choices individuals made, and how these choices shifted across geographical borders. Some innovators are even exploring virtual reality to recreate and understand human instincts in such high-stakes situations.
However, not everyone's on board with this trolley-centric approach. Critics argue that the real-world complexities of driverless cars can't be boxed into just the trolley narrative. They believe we need a more holistic, top-to-bottom strategy, aligned with how AI currently responds to emergencies.
And then there's the looming question: Should it be the law that crafts a universal moral code for these vehicles? Or should it be left to the individual whims and preferences of the car owner? Picture this: Would you be comfortable cruising in a car programmed to potentially sacrifice you for the greater good? While this sounds unnerving to most, some argue that embracing such a collective ethical framework could, ironically, serve our broader self-interest.
In essence, as we accelerate into this brave new world, it's pivotal to question, reflect, and above all, engage in these ethical conversations. For it's not just about innovation, but about steering its course responsibly.
Another sector that caught my attention was education. If teachers are sidelined by AI platforms, we might lose the essential human touch in education. A machine might tailor content based on a student's learning pattern, but can it genuinely understand and cater to a student's emotional and psychological needs?
ChatGPT: That's a profound point. Education is not just about transmitting information; it's about mentorship, guidance, and human connection. While AI can provide personalised learning experiences, it lacks the empathy, intuition, and emotional intelligence of a human teacher. So, while it's beneficial as a tool, replacing or sidelining human educators raises serious ethical concerns about the quality and depth of education.
Kevin: Another thing that concerns me is worker productivity. While AI promises to augment workers, there's a risk of becoming overly dependent on it. Over time, humans might lose their skills, making them less adaptable and innovative. This can stagnate personal growth and even innovation on a broader scale. My “Peak of Potential” body of knowledge seeks to elevate human potential with AI onboard, not devalue humanity.
ChatGPT: It's the classic dilemma of technology making life easier but potentially making humans lazier or less skilled. It's crucial to strike a balance where AI serves as a tool that enhances human abilities rather than replace them. Constant learning and adaptation should be encouraged to ensure humans remain relevant and active participants in the workplace.
Kevin: Precisely. As we delve deeper into the age of AI, these discussions are vital. Balancing technological advancement with ethical considerations will determine the kind of future we shape.
ChatGPT: Absolutely, Kevin. The dialogue between technological potential and ethical responsibility will define our era. Your article and table provide an excellent foundation for these discussions.
Summing It Up
To wrap it up, remember that in the age of AI, being human is our superpower. Embrace the changes, be adaptive, and remember: Every Pi or GPT-Assistant AI needs a human touch. Until next time, keep wondering, questioning, and embracing the techy future with ethics in mind! 👩💻👨💻
To infinity and beyond 🚀
Kevin
References:
Frick & Marx, 2021
Baptista et al., 2020
Rai et al., 2019
Brachten et al., 2020; Mirbabaie et al., 2020, 2021
Wirtz et al., 2020
Selz, 2020
Złotowski et al., 2017
Batin & Turchin, 2017
Carter and Grover, 2015
Last Things
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Ethics and Algorithms is meticulously designed to serve as your compass in this journey, offering invaluable lessons and insights that will empower both individuals and organisations. We go beyond GPT prompts to the real impacts taking place today.