Finding Humanity in the Age of Generative AI
“Write a Instagram caption for my girlfriend’s birthday.” The cursor blinked for a second and the chat window spit out, “Here’s to another year of making memories!” I’ve always found writing heartfelt messages for my friends and family a stressful experience. So this year, I turned to ChatGPT.
Throughout history, we humans have consistently leveraged technology to shoulder our burdens. Consider the invention of the automobile: it has liberated us from the physical labor of travel, conserving our time and energy. Yet, this convenience has not been without costs, as we grapple with potential health implications of our growing reliance on vehicles. Similarly, the Industrial Revolution, with its innovations such as the Spinning Jenny and the power loom, revolutionized the textile industry by boosting factory productivity. Yet these advancements also led to harsh working conditions, an uptick in child labor, and the displacement of many skilled textile artisans. As we continue to innovate, we must not lose sight of the unintended consequences that have usually remained an afterthought to the developers of new technologies.
In my life before the GSB, I worked as a software engineer at Meta, improving trust and safety on its platforms. Facebook originally began as a networking site for college students, but swiftly evolved into a global platform that enabled communication and community transcending physical boundaries. However, as my job function implies, there were also severe side effects. Social media has opened a Pandora’s box filled with the spread of misinformation, increase of political polarism, and loneliness epidemic. Though platforms were not created to spread COVID vaccine misinformation, they were also not designed to protect users. As growth and monetization took the front seat, the wellness of users and health of society were shoved to the back.
Professors on campus seem to mention ChatGPT at least once per lecture. It’s clear we are currently basking in the glow of generative AI. This technology assists us in creating art, acing standardized tests, and drafting emails, all in a matter of seconds. Goldman Sachs projects that generative AI will propel a 7% surge in global GDP, translating to nearly $7 trillion, and boost productivity growth by 1.5 percentage points within the next decade. What if we could lower healthcare costs through automated transcribing of medical notes? What if we could equip every child with an affordable private tutor? Once again, it seems like we are at the dawn of a new revolution.
But another question we should be asking is: are we automating the functions that make us human? Unlike past innovations that merely eased our physical burdens, generative AI is taking over some of our cognitive tasks. In September 2022, a groundbreaking event took place at a small state fair. ‘Théâtre d’Opéra Spatial’ clinched first place in the digital art category at the annual Colorado State Fair’s fine art competition. This unassuming piece of art cracked open a giant ethical conversation about what defines art because Jason M. Allen’s artwork was generated using Midjourney, an AI service that generates images. On a more general level, a January survey run by online magazine Intelligent.com on 1,000 US undergraduate students showed that nearly 1 in 3 college students have used ChatGPT to complete written assignments. Beyond the ethical debates these instances might spark, they underscore both the proficiency and the prevalence of generative AI in various creative domains.
Descartes asserted “I think, therefore I am.” This belief underscores the essential role critical thinking plays in defining our human identity. Along with cognition, our ability to feel and express emotions fundamentally shapes our humanity. Whenever we write, be it a message to a friend or a professional report, we exercise creativity to communicate our unique perspectives. The level of thinking and emotional involvement required varies, sometimes asking quite a lot of us, but flexing this capability can also be a source of happiness and purpose. We must question the value of increased productivity if it risks turning us into unfulfilled, or worse emotionless, cogs of the machine.
My intention is not to argue that generative AI will spell the end of humanity as we know it, nor do I propose that we should entirely resist its progression. Consider this: over two decades have elapsed since IBM’s Deep Blue bested world chess champion Gary Kasparov while the popularity of chess has only grown. Similarly, we continue to jog and train for marathons, even though it has been over a century since the invention of the automobile. Just because technology can perform our tasks doesn’t mean that it’s necessary to relinquish the joy derived from accomplishing them ourselves.
As people expand their interactions with generative AI, new forms of creation are unfolding. The field of prompt engineering is emerging as we discover the importance of quality inputs for differentiated outputs. In this realm, creativity takes form in formulating questions that yield unique results. Individuals are also combining multiple generative AI products to push the boundaries of creative potential. The viral Balenciaga Harry Potter video was crafted utilizing a medley of platforms including ChatGPT, Midjourney, Eleven Labs, and D-ID.
An increasing number of teachers are beginning to harness the capabilities of generative AI as a tool to boost students’ creativity. An English teacher interviewed by the New York Times said she instructs her students to use ChatGPT to create outlines for their essays comparing and contrasting pieces of literature. Once the outlines are generated, she has her students put their laptops away and write their essays with pen and paper. This method has proven not only to deepen students’ understanding of the stories, but also to teach them how to utilize AI as a tool. This approach enhances their own creativity, rather than replacing it, demonstrating the potential of AI as a powerful supplement to human expression.
Although my work at Meta touched on the darkest sides of social media like sexual harassment, election denial, and vaccine misinformation, I’ve also seen the bright side. People give away products and reduce waste on “Buy Nothing” groups. They find community in the “Subtle Asian Traits” group. Good Samaritans raise money for causes they care about through online fundraisers. I learned that technology is a tool that amplifies your intentions. As long as we want to express creativity with generative AI, we can find new possibilities to do so. Whether it is through ChatGPT and Midjourney or weaving and oil painting, let’s keep in mind what makes up our human essence is our ability to express our ideas, share them with others, and experience the emotions together.
Editor: Claire Yun
