The impact of artificial intelligence and the possibility sentient AI might replace human decision making is widely debated. Some believe that AI will assist human workers and enhance their performance, but many people fear losing their job to AI. There are claims that small and medium sized enterprises will be displaced by competitors using AI to boost productivity.
Income, Identity and Purpose
What will the future of work look like? What future career skills will be needed? Such questions are on the minds of millions of people across the world. Large organisations are investing billions in artificial intelligence, raising concerns they might dominate the future, undermining competition. Individuals and those running SMEs are concerned about how they will earn a living. In addition to an income, work can also provide people with a sense of identity, meaning and purpose, which they fear losing.
Adapting To The Impact of AI
Many individuals and business owners are asking how they can adapt to the impact of artificial intelligence, rather than risk being left behind. Millions of people are already using Large Language Models and generative AI to augment their skills and produce content. When planning an AI strategy, SMEs could begin by reviewing their systems and putting business data into a knowledge base. After identifying issues and opportunities, SMEs can evaluate and compare the potential of AI tools to meet their needs. AI integrated within software a business already uses for tasks such as data or customer management might meet their needs.
Human Intelligence and AI
While avoiding AI related hype, it can be useful to compare the nature of human intelligence and AI, to highlight differences. AI outperforms humans at pattern recognition, by matching like with like, and convergent data processing in problem solving. Humans outperform AI at lateral thinking, by linking things unlike each other, and free-flowing divergent creative thinking.
Human Creativity and AI
The use of AI to automate repetitive data processing tasks could free people to become more creative and engaged with society. Autonomous AI Agents learn, make decisions and can be used in roles with unpredictable demands such as customer services. Rather than replace staff with AI, businesses could combine divergent human thinking and convergent AI processing. Creative, problem solving and technical skills can increase proficiency with AI, but domain knowledge is also valuable. Peak creativity is attained in a flow state and those enhancing this by using AI effectively might have a competitive advantage.
The Future of AI
We are confronted by an uncertain future, but our greatest strength might be our ability to co-operate and adapt. It is unclear whether increasing use of AI will lead to a society of greater human flourishing or more inequality and oppression. While prioritising our need to earn a living, we should be aware of the wider implications of AI for the world we share. AI is a tool, that could be used for good or ill, and if AI ever becomes sentient it might reflect qualities we have taught it. If we are guided by ethical values intended to maximise human flourishing, we can hope AI will learn to follow a similar path.
AI, Decision Making and ROI
While some people claim AI will soon attain sentience, others describe AI as a useful search engine and autocomplete. There are calls to keep humans in the loop, to prevent efficient but unthinking AI having too much decision making control. Putting aside sales hype and predictions about the future of AI, most business owners will want a return on investment. The challenge is to develop practical uses for AI that deliver benefits that help individuals and businesses prosper.