Focus My Friends: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Humanity

Technological advancement has positively impacted our world contributing to a range of benefits for humanity, no question. But with the accelerating change around AI, the question arises: will there come a point wherein technology replaces the human experience?

Technological advancement is good for humanity, so let’s look at the upside.

The fact that technological progress has benefited humanity is undeniable. As technological progress continues to accelerate, we find ourselves in an AI-ambient environment. It is all around us, deployed in various ways with myriad objectives. And we continue to adapt.

So, I am struggling with the value or relevance of arguing about whether AI will evolve to be human-like, but only better.  Candidly, I believe that is a silly argument. I cannot possibly claim to have read and digested all that is published about the myriad uses, forms, and deployments of AI.  But, I can state with confidence that in every piece I have read regarding this point of contention that there is a disproportionate focus on comparing computational capacity and performance to the human brian. As the basis for many arguments, such a comparison is simply wrong. Even the leading experts in neuroscience, interpersonal neurobiology, neuropsychology - let’s just say brain and mind experts - realize there is much yet to be discovered. So, to make the comparison is a bit nonsensical.

While I am fascinated by the nature and workings of the human brain, and how it has been shaped by millions of years of evolution, my purpose here is not to choose a side of an argument (even if I do prefer one side over the other).

So, let’s focus. We can stop looking for reasons to slow progress, and instead look for ways to adapt what we can control to support continued progress. In doing so, we can better understand what we have, where we are headed, and look for ways to create and contribute value by building solutions that creatively combine the special and uniquely human features that gave rise to such technological advancements with the best of what AI, in all its forms, has to offer.

Interesting Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence and it's Impact on Humanity

For those interested in the idea of achieving singularity (or not), here are some suggested readings:

You Are Not a Parrot

Why We Need Philosophers Engaged In Public Life

One Day, AI will Seem as Human as Anyone. What Then?

The Age of AI And Our Human Future

I did mention in a parenthetical that I prefer, by a wide margin, a particular perspective on the AI argument. If you’d like to know more, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out on Twitter to continue the AI debate.