Is AI the top human invention of all time?

April 11, 2024

Not yet, but it could get there. AI may become one of the top human inventions of all time. AI can change not only human society, but the human species as a whole.

Is AI a standalone invention or is it part of the invention of computers? That can be a hard philosophical question, but to keep things easily, let’s go with the current convention of calling AI a standalone invention.

Creatix sees language, god, and money as the top three human inventions of all time. More traditional rankings list the wheel, the printing press, the light bulb, engines, boats, cars, airplanes, computers, the internet, the iphone, etcetera as top inventions. Humans are so incredibly creative that the list of inventions is long and hard to rank.

Creatix sees language as the top invention because it separated humans from the rest of the animal kingdom. Other animals may have communication systems, but not human-like languages. Languages allow for the creation of meaning, organization of knowledge, and communication between humans. Communication fosters collaboration, which proved essential for propelling the human species to the top of the food chain.

Creatix recognizes and to some extent respects that many humans do not consider God to be an invention. Many believe God to exist and be the creator of everything that exist. Since that has never been proven empirically and sounds mythological, Creatix considers it an invention. Humans used their imagination to create gods, spirits, and supernatural powers. Later on, clever humans in the Middle East consolidated all gods into one. Many believe and that belief is so powerful, formative, and useful that Creatix considers it the second top invention of all time.

Creatix sees money as the third top invention of all time. Money is a technology (tool and method) for economic valuation. Money facilitates trade, payment, and representational storage of value. Money serves as the proverbial carrot motivating human action. Money facilitated the invention of almost everything other than language, which preceded it.

Computers are easily the fourth top human invention so far. Computers have had an impact far greater than the wheel, the printing press, the lightbulb, and engines. At the same time, all those inventions preceded the computer and facilitated its invention to one extent or another. The internet, a worldwide network of interconnected computers, is an invention as significant if not more than the printing press in terms of its capacity to spread and store knowledge.

AI can be seen as an extension of computers and the internet. Regardless of whether AI is seen as part of computers or a separate invention, AI carries the inherent promise of becoming a top invention. Intelligence is what led humans to invent language in the first place. Intelligence is everything. Intelligence is the ability to acquire knowledge and develop skills to solve problem. AI is computerized human-like intelligence.

Just like human intelligence changed everything on planet Earth, AI may do the same. The upcoming impact of AI cannot be overstated. AI may change the whole world, change human societies, and change the whole human species altogether. As humans become smarter thanks to AI, humans should be able to develop medical technologies allowing humans to gradually escape and overcome the biological limitations of the human condition. Gradually, AI may help humans to become a new species altogether. This will take centuries, but it may definitely happen. In the meantime, there will be plenty of time to adapt and to enjoy the many benefits that AI will bring to human life.

Stay tuned. With AI around, the best is yet to come.

www.creatix.one, creative advice for someone (not everyone)