Adieu 2022. And thank God, for 'Human Intelligence'!

As the year closes, I thought of looking back into this initiative I took on September 4 this year, in the form of my personal blog on Human Intelligence. I must admit, it has been a very fascinating journey of self-inquiry on one end, and a truly enlightening exploration of human evolution on the other.

The inspiration for this blog came up for multiple reasons. Perhaps all of us, in some way or the other, have been transformed by the pandemic; especially the eerie lockdowns, in ways we do not realise. We took a lot of things for granted, but this period caused us all to introspect about the evanescence (or fleeting nature) of life, as we know it. It is said that people should contemplate on their mortality every once in a while, because it will make them more conscious about their choices and the direction they give their life.

And then, there has been this entire clamour around technology - the very notion that thanks especially to the pandemic-led social distancing norms, organisations are testing the waters with AI and robotics, thereby replacing humans much faster than was previously thought. One such research was conducted by KPMG in 2021, which stated that the rate of AI adoption accelerated during the pandemic across industrial manufacturing (93%); financial services (84%); tech (83%); retail (81%); life sciences (77%); healthcare (67%) and government (61%). Accompanying this is the obvious fear about whose job AI may replace in the next 10, or even 5 years.

One figure that is being quoted at the moment is from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report 2022 – 85 million by 2025. But on the flip side, it also says that AI will create 97 million jobs in the same time period. Many of these new positions will require advanced learning, but less skilled jobs like AI maintenance will also see a quantum jump. In my conversations with top executives and thought leaders during the pandemic, this question of how AI will change life, work and society as we know it came up repeatedly.

Undeniably, the AI revolution represents a massive leap for science. Discussing the technology, understanding its implications and even dreading its disruptive influence are very normal topics of everyday conversation. Elon Musk, in his unabashed style, has excited sci fi buffs with his assertion that a “superintelligent machine could take over the world”. But the saner and more balanced view is that we should view AI as a tool of collaboration, and not necessarily a case of ‘mankind creating its own nemesis’.

Erik Brynjolfsson, Professor of Economics and of Operations, Information, and Technology (both by courtesy) at Stanford Graduate School of Business and a fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), comments in a recent paper, “The Turing Trap” (alluding to computing pioneer Alan Turing, who predicted in 1950 that computers would convincingly mimic human intelligence in a few decades):

“Too much attention has been paid to the idea that algorithms or robots will become substitutes for people. Instead, shifting our focus to envision ways that AI can work alongside people will spur innovation and productivity while unlocking economic benefits for everyone.”

In this paradigm, I have decided to approach the human-AI interface from another direction – from the human side, and that explains the title ‘Human Intelligence’. For me personally, human potential is a truly exceptional area of study, because it can be explored at so many levels and from several diverse perspectives and fields of study physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. I find this newsletter as an excellent opportunity to learn and share insights in this area, which also serve as a instrument of my personal growth.

It has been called counter-intuitive by some to talk about Human Intelligence at a time when we are discussing AI. Moreover, don’t we understand our own intelligence and potential too well?

To answer the first question, it sounds counter-intuitive indeed. But I firmly believe there is no better time for this topic than the present, considering the pace of change that technology promises to unleash in our lives. And the second question? I have never believed it to be so. Our potential is ‘limitless’, and one mantra I have always stood by is this:

“We are so quick to question our strengths. But why don’t we question our limitations with the same intensity?”

It is not surprising, that this platform LinkedIn itself calls these times the “Great Reshuffle” in its 2022 Workplace Learning Report. The pandemic and the resulting social upheaval have led individuals to prioritize flexibility and fulfillment. This is one of the key reasons why organisations are carefully reexamining their business strategies, workforce models, values, and culture. They have to future proof their organisations on one end, and on the other, they have to fulfil the urgent need of employees for growth and purpose. In a survey, around 74% of learning and development (L&D) leaders agreed that L&D has become cross-functional in their organization. Further, 72% believe that L&D has become a more strategic function for their business.

So I really see this newsletter as a tribute to the human quest for ‘questioning limitations’ and ‘expanding horizons’. And that is not necessarily because of AI, which is only the latest sub-plot in the human evolution story that started in Africa around 200,000 years ago. Human intelligence has been, and should always be in the centrestage, which has achieved so much ever since, triumphed in the severest of circumstances and surmounted the grandest of challenges time and again. Smartphones should mean smarter, and not dumber people!

What I can say, after 16 editions of the newsletter (this being Number 17), that this has been an immensely fruitful endeavour personally. And it only leaves me hungry for much more. Extremely thankful to all those who have engaged with my content, shared their views, and given me a wealth of constructive feedback. I look forward to much more of the same in 2023, as we unlock more and more interesting dimensions of this fascinating field of study. Making a positive contribution to each other’s lives is the least we can do as fellow humans. In the evocative words of American spiritual guru Ram Dass:

“We are all just walking each other home.”

To my LinkedIn connections and readers of Human Intelligence, it is immensely gratifying to be a part of your journey, just as you are of mine. Wishing you all a very happy and fulfilling new year!