Why AI Is No Match For Human Wisdom
Humans vs AI, Part 1
“They are taking our jobs.”
Have you heard someone say this lately? Artificial intelligence is buzzing around offices and threads and conversations. Maybe you stumbled upon an AI-generated illustration on social media or watched in amazement as Chat GPT wrote a poem about the Chicago Cubs in 5 seconds. (* Yes, that was for me, and it’s awesome and you can read it below.)
The rise of generative AI is shocking:
ChatGPT, the reigning king of AI models (for now), has not only passed a handful of exams, including an MBA, a medical license, and a bar, but it’s even been given the congressional seal of approval.
It’s safe to say, AI is taking over the world.
As a mere mortal writer, I can’t help but be enamored with AI’s capabilities. The speed at which it cranks out content is enough to cause my imposter syndrome to reach new levels.
“Why can’t you be more like your brother, ChatGPT? Everybody likes ChatGPT more than you. Why don’t you go eat a plate of nachos and leave the writing to the robots?”
It’s hard not to feel all the emotions when confronted with this new phenomenon. Elon Musk tweeted this in December:
Notice how he uses the words “scary” and “dangerous.” Maybe you can relate to these two words or other human emotions:
- Fear: Will AI will take away your job? Will AI continue to get smarter? At what point should we expect it to evolve into terminator and kill our families?
- Cynicism: Will AI perpetuate misinformation, hate, and tribalism?
- Confusion: Maybe you don’t even get what’s happening and are concerned about being left in the dust.
- Depression: Is this going to change what I love about the world, or maybe the joy of being human?
I understand these responses and have heard similar sentiments from many people. But allow me to suggest a different emotion-a contrasting perspective. After much reflection and discussions, I’ve arrived at a different conclusion.
HOPE.
Sure, AI will take some jobs and slowly change our world. But maybe this is a good thing.
Because we are not robots, we are human. Here’s why this makes me hopeful:
Maybe AI will force us to rethink what it means to be human. Maybe we will return to a forgotten essence of humanity. Maybe we will remember how beautifully unique we are.
So, in the upcoming weeks, I’m going to write about 8 ways AI can help us understand what it means to be human. Here’s number 1:
1. Wisdom over Knowledge
Do you remember history tests in junior high?
- When was the War of Roses fought?
- Who assassinated Ferdinand?
- How many years was King Henry VIII on the throne?
Remember any of the answers, though? I sure don’t. Partly, I don’t care. But also, why remember facts when I can Google them in 2 seconds?
This is knowledge. And let’s be real, humans are no match for AI when it comes to knowledge. It can instantly sweep hoards of information across endless areas of expertise.
But wisdom is different.
What is your definition of wisdom? Here’s mine: “ the ability to discern using experience, information, and intuition.”
Wisdom is more than an accumulation of facts. It is a complex practice which evaluates multiple inputs at once, pondering all the nuances of each situation. Wisdom circles a problem, weighing the pros and cons, the impact on society, and moral obligations.
Let’s talk about human wisdom and how we can move from knowledge to wisdom.
Experience
“Wisdom is the daughter of experience” Leonardo da Vinci
Most days after school, my 8-year-old daughter reveals a new piece of insight she’s learned from her friends:
- “My friends say it’s weird I’m not allowed to watch that movie.”
- “My friends told me girls should act in this way.”
- “ALL my friends stay up later than me at night and think I should too.”
Why bother relying on the people who brought you into this world, foot the bill for everything, and have a lifetime of experience, when you can just trust the judgement of an 8-year-old who only learned to read last year?
Clearly, they have it all figured out.
But in our 20s, we all face the humiliating journey of discovering our parents might actually know something.
There is a difference between borrowed experience and lived experience.
Artificial intelligence borrows insights from humans, but it can’t speak from a lived progression of life.
When I lose my job suddenly, I don’t want to read a stale 5-step process of coping. I want to talk with a human who has been through job loss and used the experience to grow.
If I want to be a more present and patient father, I don’t need an accumulation of “ tips to being a better father. “ I want to talk to an older man who has made mistakes and learned from them.
Maybe, just maybe, the evolution of technology will push us to value having human mentors.
Maybe instead of disregarding or abandoning our elders who are outdated, we will yearn for their lived-in experience.
Maybe we will revere and respect them, not because of their knowledge, but their human wisdom.
Beyond experience, there’s another part of wisdom which is uniquely human and a may seem a little mystical.
Intuition
“I believe in intuitions and inspirations…I sometimes FEEL that I am right. I do not KNOW that I am.”
Albert Einstein
When is the last time you had a “gut feeling?”
- Maybe you talked with a person and felt a deep sense something is off? They were lying or had something to hide.
- Or you randomly thought of an old friend you haven’t talked to in years and later in the day you receive a text from them.
- Have you ever sensed a storm approaching? Or made a decision you couldn’t logically explain but “feel” is right?
Some say it’s pattern recognition. Others say a connection to Spirit (more on the Spirit in week 3.) Or it’s sometimes connected to vibrations, or “vibes.” Some even call it a sixth sense. Regardless of what intuition is exactly, we have it. It’s a distinctly human trait and more valuable than we give it credit for.
Sometimes, while sweating over a decision using data or pros/cons lists or endless theorizing-the best way to come to a conclusion is to ask, “what does my gut say?”
Or, a very violent version of this question is, “gun to your head, what’s your decision?” Very violent, but an image which helps us focus.
But here’s the thing: intuition takes practice and stillness. We’re so caught up in the chaos of life that we often miss the whispers and nudges within.
We know the answers, deep down, but we’re too busy or too scared to listen.
Maybe, the rise of knowledge will teach us to disconnect from endless distractions or opinions or a plethora of knowledge.
Maybe we will learn to take moments of stillness and solitude, and listen to our inner-knowing.
Wisdom is More Critical Than Ever
As technology increases, human wisdom becomes indispensable.
Tristan Harris is a leading voice speaking about the potential dangers of technology. He says, “More than ever, we need wisdom to wield our god-like technology.”
We need human wisdom to circle around the dangers of endless knowledge and ever-growing power.
A 22-year-old named Edward Tian is doing this very thing. He’s using his wisdom to fight the plagiarism potentials of AI. He wants to preserve the individualization from human writing. We need more humans willing to circle around these kinds of potential problems, guided by the experience of human history.
The world is constantly evolving, and with every new breakthrough comes new questions and challenges.
But one thing has remained constant since the dawn of humanity: the power of critical thinking. It’s the single most important skill a person can have in today’s world.
We need people who know HOW to think, not just WHAT to think.
Imagine a world where people know how to ask the right questions, where they challenge the status quo and dig deeper to find the truth. That’s the world we need. We need individuals who don’t blindly accept what technology or corporations tell them, but who have the courage to ask, “Is this really true?”
The ability to think critically is what sets us apart from other species and it’s what makes us truly human. Engaging with the deep questions of existence, seeking wisdom over just knowledge, that’s what makes us great.
May we fight against the over-reliance on technology and embrace the power of our own intelligence.
May we be a generation of critical thinkers, always asking hard questions and never settling for easy answers.
May we be humans who pursue and cherish wisdom over knowledge.
—
* The Chicago Cubs, a team so true,
Their fans filled with love, red and blue. From Wrigley Field, the sounds of cheer, Bringing joy to all who are near. The ivy on the walls, a sight so grand, A reminder of the team’s rich history and land. The players, fierce and full of might, Bringing victories day and night. So let’s raise a glass, and give a cheer, For the Chicago Cubs, who bring us cheer year after year.
Originally published at https://adamhendrix.com on February 6, 2023.
