It’s harder and harder to tell the difference between human creativity and machine-generated productivity. Will AI liberate us from mundane tasks and responsibilities? Will AI make us more creative, productive? Is it quietly changing what it means to work as a human?
AI is often touted as a way to eliminate repetitive work and allow us to think in a “higher order” manner. The reality of offices and digital workspaces, however, is much more complex – and more disturbing. Rather than challenging us to grow, AI is making it dangerously easy to outsource our thinking, our writing, our decision-making–even our creativity.
Once a place for human potential to flourish, the workplace is now at risk of becoming an environment where our most valuable skills are dulled. We will not only lose our jobs to machines if we don’t take care, but we may also lose the qualities that made us so valuable.
AI – Chicken or Egg?
AI “kills off” skills that we need to be valuable in the future workplace.
Most people find it difficult to imagine something outside their current experience. Many ideas are presented to us by AI experts and in movies about the future. The general reaction to what the future may hold can range from fear to excitement.
Truth often lies in the middle. Will AI be good? I think that with every positive, there are also negatives.
Social media can either be used for good or bad (to spread disinformation or incite hatred) as an example. In today’s “convenience culture”, we have everything we need at our fingertips. But we also want instant gratification.
What does it mean for the workplace?
In the next 10 years, workplaces will look completely different and require a new set of skills from employees. In 10 years, the workplace will be completely different. employees will need to learn new skills. Why pay someone to perform a manual task when AI can do it cheaper and faster?
This may sound like a threat, but any perceived threat brings with it new opportunities. The manual work is done, and we can now focus on more creative, critical, and higher-order work.
Take responsibility for your personal development. When you think about the skills you want to develop, it is important to be strategic. What AI cannot do? What skills should you be developing?
How AI can assist us
AI can be used to automate repetitive tasks that are usually done manually. Data entry, meeting scheduling, or automated email responses are just a few examples.
You can use it as an “alternate” version of yourself to perform some of your more basic tasks.
AiSensum is an AI entrepreneur who has trained and created an AI version himself. It thinks and speaks like him. The AI version can also speak multiple languages with the push of a single button. His AI version will answer simple questions from customers, so he can spend his time on more complex work.
AI is eroding the most important future skills.
The technology revolution, and the AI it brings with it, has already had a negative impact on our brains.
The brain atrophys when parts are not used. This can affect our ability to perform certain tasks.
This can be seen in the fact that people no longer need to memorize phone numbers (they are stored in their phone) or in the way spelling standards have dropped (the auto-correct will catch it!). It’s easy to see how technology is taking over our lives. We no longer need to remember phone numbers (they are in our phones) or even spelling standards.
Once upon a time we could have used our creativity to design or write, but now we can say “AI is more intelligent than I am – I will devote my energy into asking better questions so AI can take care of it for me”. Many people, rather than develop critical thinking, creativity, imagination, and problem-solving abilities, resort to AI. This is affecting our ability in these areas.
It’s a big problem, because AI cannot “outthink” humans if they take the time to study. AI is great at gathering information from the past, but originality comes from human creativity. AI does not have the emotional intelligence and intuitive ability of humans, even if they spend the time to develop these parts of the mind.
If we rely too much on technology, then it will hinder our ability to develop the skills that can make us irreplaceable at the workplace in the future. To ensure our future success, it’s important to understand our brain and develop it in the correct way.
What can we do?
First, recognize what AI can do for you – it will help you perform your job more efficiently. You can use AI to automate and structure your plans, or to help you think more like you if you teach it.
It is not a substitute for you. It can’t replace your originality or creativity, or your ability to think critically. It cannot also “lead” anyone. Take every opportunity to improve your skills.
This could mean that you write something yourself to provoke thought, instead of relying on AI. You can also challenge your own thinking when AI presents you with information, instead of accepting it. Or, working to improve your emotional intelligence.
