What makes humans different from AI?
I don’t know about you, but I have been alarmed by, intrigued by and overwhelmed by what I am learning about the AI revolution that is both here and is coming...
Dear Reader,
This has led me down the path of introspection to try and find the value of me as a human in the next 3-5 years…one of the first questions I have asked myself is:
What makes me different from an AI robot?
(Apart from the obvious “intelligence” level difference where I am of course the smarter one…not!)
With AI taking away our intelligence (facts, analysis, data processing etc.), what is left of me as a human and what value does it hold?
This is for me, most probably the most important question you can ask yourself at this stage to help prepare for the AI revolution.
When I started learning more about the progress of AI and the uncertainty among experts of the impact this will have on our careers and our lives, then this question became even more important and urgent.
What makes 🥰 humans different from 🤖 AI?
Please note that I am not asking what makes us better than AI or AI better than us.
I just want us to explore the inherent differences between humans and AI to start with:
I have seen this question asked and discussed and people tend to make some rather generic comments when they answer this question and say things like:
“AI doesn’t have emotions...”
“AI cannot think creatively…”
“AI cannot do critical thinking…”
If we stick to only those 3 commonly listed differences, let’s explore each one a bit deeper:
👩❤️💋👨 AI doesn’t have emotions.
Yes, AI doesn’t have emotions or feelings. I think this difference is probably the most profound and powerful difference that exist between us and AI. It is a topic that I will explore in much more depth with you in our “AI & Us Community” as well as future articles here.
But I do want to ask a few more questions for you to ponder in the meantime around this difference:
AI cannot form a real ‘connection’ with another AI or a human but can a human form a connection to an AI? (Thinking about Star Trek’s character called: “Data” here)
Can AI learn to mimic emotions? (How often do we pretend to feel a certain way, can AI do this and what is the impact of it?)
In what way does it help or hinder us that AI doesn’t have real emotions like us?
So many more questions to ask about this powerful difference between AI & Us!
🪄AI cannot think creatively.
This difference I don’t believe is quite true. Most of our creativity comes from building on others’ ideas and adding a unique spin on it.
True creativity is rare and most humans do not use this trait in its true form (due to stress and other environment factors). Even though humans have the capability to tap into a creative source within, it is rarely used to its full potential and if it is used, it often builds on existing knowledge and solutions.
If you think about it in this way, AI has access to a lot more knowledge and resources than any one single human or even a team and therefore can come up with creative solutions like most humans can. The level of intelligence is only accelerating, and AI will be at least as creative as us, if not much more creative soon…
🧠 AI cannot do critical thinking.
Let’s start by defining what is the meaning of the term Critical Thinking:
“Critical thinking is the process of evaluating facts, evidence, and arguments to form a judgment using rational, sceptical, and unbiased analysis. It includes self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective habits of the mind. A critical thinker applies these skills in effective communication, problem-solving, and to overcome egocentrism and sociocentrism”. Source: Wikipedia
AI can help us do critical thinking better.
So yes, whilst AI doesn’t do critical thinking in the sense of considering emotions, intangibles and other non-measurable considerations, AI helps us by contributing data, analysis, and facts for consideration.
This is a great example of a trait that can only be better when we work with AI to ensure our critical thinking is well rounded and well considered.
🔔 Closing Thoughts
I hope you have enjoyed this first real dive into the deeper questions that we should start to ask ourselves. We are all at a critical juncture in all our lives and living through a change of such magnitude that our finite minds cannot quite grasp it.
We are already being overtaken by AI technologies and as far as I can see, this is accelerating at an alarming speed.
What should we do next?
My best suggestion is to gather and figure out how best to embrace and survive this life change we are all facing.
I look forward to sharing more of what I learn about AI, us, and our ability to embrace what is the greatest change of our lifetimes.
Thank you,
Esta Lessing
I’ve created a new special community where we delve deeper into questions like these. Please come and join the community here: AI & Us Community
Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." — John F. Kennedy
All the best,
Esta Lessing CBAP®
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