The human side of AI
Remember the Terminator movies we used to watch as kids? Full of robotic baddies and a future that seemed, well, kinda scary?
In Terminator 2: Judgement Day, there is a key invention — a microchip. This invention triggers a series of events leading to robots eventually overpowering humans. In essence, it signifies the beginning of doomsday for humankind.
Now with AI zooming ahead, one couldn’t help but wonder if chatGPT is that invention 😱.
Often, when folks talk about AI, it's in fearful tones. They're worried about robots stealing jobs, causing chaos in society, and worse. Even the big guns in tech have voiced their concerns:
"The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race." — Stephen Hawking
"Mark my words, A.I. is far more dangerous than nukes." — Elon Musk
"AI could pose an existential risk to humanity." — Nick Bostrom
Sounds a bit like a Terminator sequel, doesn't it?
Thankfully, not everyone's painting a doom and gloom picture. Innovator and creator Marc Andreessen has a whole different take on AI in his article Why AI Will Save the World.
He sees it as a tool for making our lives better, not worse. His optimism is pretty catching, pointing out AI's potential to 10x all aspects of our lives.
What I find most fascinating is his belief that AI can have human-like qualities, and can even be a life-long buddy. Imagine having a sidekick who's always got your back, never gets mad at you, and can help you make the best decisions without any of the biases that often trip us humans up.
How about we take a little dive into these amazing human-like 'features' that AI is starting to show?
Empathy
This might surprise you, but a study shared by USA Today found that people actually preferred chatbot responses to human doctors 79% of the time.
Why? They found the bots more empathetic!
It goes to show that AI, with a touch of empathy, could really make a difference in healthcare, giving patients a supportive, understanding voice.
That’s just one study in healthcare but it’s not difficult to imagine AI winning our hearts with boundless empathy in all other areas of life, whether it’s education, mentorship, or even customer service. Can you imagine dealing with an understanding, empathetic voice on the other end of a customer service call, one that never loses its cool or patience?
Speaking of patience, that's another area where AI shines.
Infinite patience
Ever been frustrated trying to teach a new skill to a friend, or even a new recipe to a partner? We all lose our cool sometimes, right? AI doesn't have that problem. You can ask an AI the same question a hundred times and you'll still get a patient, well-explained answer each time.
Think about language learning apps. They'll repeat the same phrase over and over, never getting annoyed, helping you get your head around that tricky new language.
Think of the advantages in a classroom setting, where students can learn at their own pace without feeling rushed or embarrassed.
Logical yet emotionally intelligent
Here's where AI really shines. It can combine the logical abilities of a computer with something akin to human emotional intelligence. Think about AI customer service bots. They're not just solving problems; they're reading emotions, and tailoring their responses to make customers feel better.
Reduced bias
One big upside of AI? It's got the potential to be less biased than us humans. As an example, some AI hiring tools are being developed to assess job applicants purely based on merit, helping to eliminate any unconscious bias.
Constant learning and adaptability
AI doesn't get tired or overwhelmed with information. It's always ready to learn and adapt. Talk of being open-minded!
Just look at those recommendation algorithms that keep refining their suggestions based on what you do.
Superior memory
We've all had those "I forgot" moments. But AI doesn't forget. It remembers every interaction, every piece of information. This can be a game changer in areas like customer service, where AI tools can remember all customer interactions, providing a personalized and consistent experience.
Or in education where it can keep track of a student's progress over time, remembering every question they've asked, every topic they've struggled with, and every milestone they've reached. It can then tailor its teaching methods and materials to match the student's individual learning style and needs, creating a truly personalized learning experience.
Or in healthcare where AI can create comprehensive patient profiles, remembering every diagnosis, every medication prescribed, and every treatment plan followed. This data can help healthcare providers to make more informed decisions, potentially improving patient outcomes. Plus, it could alert doctors to potential health risks based on a patient's history, thereby leading to preventative care.
So, while the future is always a little uncertain, one thing is clear — we're in the driver's seat when it comes to AI.
Rather than seeing it as a scary, Terminator-like villain, it's time we welcome AI as a potentially empathetic, patient, logical, and unbiased buddy.
Let's embrace the human side of AI and 10x our lives.