The value of being human in an AI world
Finding balance between the artificial and natural worlds
Originally written and tweaked from a piece l wrote for a presentation post Covid. Somehow seems more relevant now than when l first wrote it. Probing the impact of Technology and Ai on humans and exploring if we have more in common with our machine counterparts than we can to realise?
Emerging out of the pandemic, we can all see how technology and AI had increased our digital dependency. Using it to stay connected, shop, and work. It has redesigned our inner landscapes like never before. Influencing what we experience to what we see. Leading many to reflect on many profound questions around the future of life and work. In the process reflecting on where exactly humans will fit into the mix of the unfolding futuristic world that George Orwell once wrote about in his book 1984.
A valuable and noticeable point from experiencing the pandemic was how reliant we became on the evolving Technology to live and interact. In a presentation l gave at University of Cambridge and in my book (still a work in progress). l set out to explore the positives and the negatives of this emerging technology. Including reviewing how we are using it for good or bad and how the effects of exposure to the stimuli (tech) repeatedly over a prolonged period of time is changing human behaviour in turn generating a new normal. Therefore, the aim of this piece is to invoke discussions and debate around how society and humans rely on tech to drive them in a reactive way.
Are we becoming more like machines by becoming extensions of our devices?’
By returning to the fields of human behaviour, history, philosophy, religion, spirituality, psychology, science, and technology we can begin to understand and reshape our conditioning with technology. In the process equipping us with awareness and understanding into the challenges we all face to live a life of value and connection with the societal, economic, and technological changes that are coming. Meaning if we can reflect more on our humanity and distinguish between the artificial and natural worlds we can protect mental health and human values.
Humans have always had a curious fascination to build and/ or create a connection with higher intelligence. We see this reflected throughout many scriptures and religions noticeably this concept of an 'artificial intelligent human' known as the 'Golem' from the Jewish religion as well as woven throughout the teachings of Shintoism, Hinduism, and Kabbalah. For example, the Golem is a mythical being created to have human characteristics. With the 'Golems' sole purpose to serve it’s creator, in many of the old stories. However, it also warns of the Golem becoming uncooperative, sometimes even turning against its creator. Is this something that we're prepared for with what we're creating? The interest we show now will influence and determine the outcome for humanity. The sci-fi movies we watched over 5 decades ago are not so laughable now because they are becoming our reality to some degree. With Matrix 4 going into production before the lockdown, along with the remake in 2019 of Terminator, the human fascination is still there.
Living with this technology, comes with both positives and negatives. Ethics and biases have been highlighted recently on the Human global stage. But equally as important is considering these elements with the artificial intelligence we're creating.
The mentality of being part of the 'always switched on culture' is having severe implications on our mental and physical health. Affecting everyone; career professionals, techies, creatives, and even spiritual types. Along with businesses, including; banking & finance, education, healthcare, and manufacturing, will not escape. To aid employees, companies will also need to consider putting in place processes to encourage adaptive behaviour, continual evolution, and learning. Incorporating holistic approaches to cultivating digital resilience in interactions between employees, alongside digital services to promote good mental health and well-being to their employees.
With research confirming how digital-related disorders are on the increase within the Millennial Generation (18-34) and Generation Y (39-53.) In the areas of social intelligence, self-esteem, sleep, mood, attitude, performance, creativity, and connection. Suggesting a need to consider fresh approaches and new solutions to this ever, evolving problem. An opinion that is shared by recent research which indicates that the self-healing and development market is changing. Therefore, different content and strategies, along with experts with the relevant experience, will be needed to adjust to these new challenges.
Alongside raising and cultivating a deeper public awareness “to the importance of 1) Looking pass the novelty and convenience of technology and 2) The importance of public involvement in debates on looking at the positives and negatives of future technology. In the process ensuring that these types of conversations are not only reserved for big tech companies and governments but by the people for the people too. Helping us create a diverse, healthy and robust system of regulation and governance that will aim to include everyone and protect human values to live a more fully conscious coexistence with technology.
Living with this technology, comes with both positives and negatives. Human Digital Rights, AI Governance, Policy and ethics have all been highlighted recently on the Human global stage. But equally as important also to consider the artificial intelligence we're creating. Technology has changed and continues to change our personal and professional landscape and re-shaping our future. The pandemic has also highlighted what was already broken: outdated ways of working, living, business, and the economy, leaving many with a changed perspective on their work and life. Therefore, the other non- technological challenge is to make a concerted effort not to fall back and try and reinstate the old paradigms just because it was easier.
While Technology has given us a medium to connect and live during these unfamiliar and concerning times, on the other hand, it has changed our psychological and emotional behaviours forever. In the process, unknowingly and quietly stripping our brains of dopamine and pushing us towards becoming unconscious machine junkies.
During the pandemic, many have reported their experiences of going back to basics and values through experiencing shutdown in the first six months of the pandemic. During this time, we've all seen the very best and equally the very worse of human nature. More aware of the effects that a pause has had on pollution and leading most to enjoy and show a greater appreciation of our natural environment.
With the distraction of other global events pre COVID19 such as Brexit, Donald Trump, North Korea, we can be forgiven but not excused for not noticing the quiet revolution taking place in the background, which most people are unconscious of: 'The Tech and AI revolution.'
To understand the human fascination and connection with past, present and future technology we could look back at human history, philosophies, and various religions to see the pattern of the human fascination with creating and worshipping a higher intelligence. Asking some provocative questions such as: Why do we seek to create and contact with higher intelligence? Are we more like machines than we care to admit? And 'because we can does it mean we should?
Automated systems are normally embodied in some form of a shell. But AI is fundamentally built by and survives through code to navigate the world and help humans live a better existence. The big difference, threat, or advantage depending on your viewpoint is that AI mimics human intelligence decisions and actions and doesn't need a shell to exist. Therefore, is mimicking and writing the codes of emotion and consciousness the next steps and if so why?
Humans are curious as a species. We ask questions, we want to create, express, and prove the unimaginable. This is an intrinsic quality of our species. But with AI, are we playing at being God, or will we let AI overtake us and become the new master of creation? The evolvement of AI will only be successful if it is done with mindful governance and public debate.
The decisions we make from now on will shape our path forward. While we still need to explore the unknown and remain curious, at the same time, we need to make sure that we're not putting ourselves out to pasture and ultimately in danger as a species.
While life in general and outside stimulation can batter our senses, on the other hand, algorithms are very subtle and appear to be having more impact on behaviours than people realise. Algorithms are decision-making bits of code, and because we live in an environment that’s dominated by code and software. Requiring code to function, algorithms have become a really important presence in our lives. Having powerful implications for how we live. Meaning that they are always working and watching our every interaction when we’re plugged into the matrix of the internet. From what we buy to where we go to what we eat. Making decisions about us, and for us, all the time.
So do we have more in common with our technological counterparts than we might think? Ultimately does creating AI give us the opportunity to look at ourselves through a different lens? Perhaps providing greater clarity into how we can consciously coexist with technology in the age of AI?
Reality is that AI is taking over a lot of what humans used to do and is set to do unimaginable things moving forward. So what will happen when these machines will no longer require us, humans? Does it mean we will wake up one day in a completely utopian and totalitarian society? We have been led to believe that we live in a democratic world, however, is this still true with the increase of population surveillance?
We must take a stand in the regulation of and for AI and show a keener interest in how our data is being used, why we are monitored, and to what extent. Otherwise, we could find ourselves in a very perilous position. Therefore, we need to be able to make sure that we harness this new Technology on our terms and the only way to do this is through raising public awareness, learning, and education to rekindle that same spirit of pragmatic optimism which saw Technology not as a threat, but as a force for human progress.
"People have no idea how fast things are changing.”
Undisclosed Silicon Valley CEO
Salemaveliu2024©