AI is eating software that is eating the world. It’s a phrase you may have heard recently. It’s often used by those concerned about the fast rise of AI in recent history. Those concerned are frankly concerned that in just months or years, the roles between humanity and technology will have swapped and copilot will transition into becoming the pilot, telling us what to do next, or just removing us since they deem us non-intelligent and therefore obsolete.
To a degree, I recognize these feelings. I too have some concerns about where all of this is going. However, upon evaluating my own thoughts, I tend to conclude it’s mostly because I don’t know. I do not know exactly what will happen, when it will happen, and what the consequences will be for me. Will I still have a job in three years from now? I don’t know. Because I cannot know. What I do know though is that those that are proactive, lean and trustworthy (plus a few others probably) have the ability to respond and adapt to changing circumstances and therefore have an advantage to those that are still figuring things out. If it is to be, it is up to me.
I don’t believe we really have an option to stop this though. And with this, I’m not just referring to AI. I’m talking about technology and technological innovation. Humanity, in essence, will seek to improve. Always. Why? Because the opposite strategy is just foolish. Why opt for a less effective method than you already have? Why send your less-then-best athletes to the Olympics? It’s what I dislike about many of Apple’s product launches. “It’s the best device we’ve ever made!”. Of course it is the best device you’ve ever launched. Imagine what your shareholders will do to you if you tell them you’re bringing a worse product to market?
However, even when we continue to push the boundaries on both technology in general and AI more specific, I certain technology is nowhere close to overtaking humanity in the foreseeable future. Why? Because it’s the HUMAN connection, stupid.
Take a look at what we witnessed over the past few weeks. The Paris 2024 Olympics. Thousands of athletes competed in dozens of different disciplines, often at the end of training programs that take at least four years. Stunning. Wildly impressive. Just amazing. But were we talking about the technology?
No, we didn’t talk technology. Not at all. We zoomed in on the most bizarre achievements of humankind. Our kin. We watched in awe as athletes competed, fought each other, fought themselves. As they lost, as they won. Did we care about the shoes they wore? The swimming clothes they put on? The special gear used at the archery tag games? No. We might have wondered about things but what truly unites us there is that we get a chance to watch human beings get the absolute best out of themselves. And we connect with them. That makes us different. That makes us human. And as long as we keep that in mind and we set out to do what’s right for humanity, I am pretty sure we’ll be allright in the long run (pun intended).
What exactly that is, right for humanity? There’s many different answers to that and I don’t know the single simple one either. But until then: look around. Just that.
