THE “AI LINE” AND HOW TO REMAIN UNIQUELY HUMAN AND RISE ABOVE IT
Simon Bowen
Leading the Renaissance of Thinking | Founder of The Models Method | Speaker, Advisor & Author | Host of "The Wisdom Of..." Podcast
The Rise And Rise Of Artificial Intelligence
I am not an AI expert.? From a technology perspective, I’m like everyone else, amazed at how quickly AI is developing and quite frankly gobsmacked at what it seems to be able to do.
To keep things simple, I drop AI into two big buckets of thought:
I’m not at all qualified to comment on the first bucket of thinking and I can only comment on the second bucket from my own perspective and experience.
The AI Line
I tend to think through complex concepts by trying to identify the paradigm that sits behind the concept or the problem.? Then I try to find the line that cuts through that paradigm.
At the line, you tend to find a shift in dynamic.? Above the line you find momentum and opportunity.? Below the line you find sameness and status quo.
It’s not a rule of nature, but it is a common occurrence when you know how to see it.
In the AI conversation there is a paradigm between What is AI possible and what remains uniquely human.
Understanding what sits above and below that line is key to being able to bring personal and collective “human” value to a market place.
The Impact Of Technology
Everytime a new technology is introduced, it of course impacts human existence in multiple ways.? Otherwise, what would be the point!
The stirrup was arguably one of the most important military inventions ever made. It allowed the rider to ride hands free and shoot arrows and use other weapons at full gallop.
The industrial age changed forever the nature of the work that had been performed by craftsmen for centuries.
The introduction of electronics to so many aspects of industries that had relied on switching and valves changed the nature of the work that had often been done on instinct and “feel”.? For example, the audio technician that had an innate feel for attenuation.
Then of course, the internet changed so much about everything!? Quickly followed by smart phones, streaming and the mobilisation of everything in the palm of your hand!
All these innovations have at least one thing in common.
They raise the bar at which human labour and involvement add value
Each time a new line of innovation is introduced, the things that humans used to do below that line eventually drop to a zero value.
At the same time, new opportunities open up above the line where the people that learn to harness the new technology experience and increase in value from their “human involvement”.
Below The AI Line
Below the AI Line are all the things that have become AI possible.
This is not an exhaustive list.
With AI we can compile code, bring together concepts and constructs of thinking, construct and design complex solutions, build and connect components, create content and so much more.
AI will aggregate and commoditise known knowledge and insights and it will create a lot of leveraged sameness.
I haven’t even stepped into the world of control systems, automation and mechanisation.? I’ve really just stayed in the lane of business and communication.
A 2013 Oxford study suggested that 47% of US jobs could be eliminated over the next 20 years as a result of AI.? In June 2023 Business Insider listed ten jobs that were at real risk as a result of AI and specifically Chat GPT … and they weren’t the lower end of the labour market that has traditionally been affected by advances in technology.
They included legal, accounting, research, financial services, technology (coding and programming), media creation, teaching, trading, graphic design and the list goes on.
The world has changed and, as any species that survives must do, the world of human work will need to adapt.
领英推荐
Above The AI Line
Whilst there is a lot of conversation about the jobs that will disappear with AI, its important to remember that this has been a constant commentary of every advancement of the human race.? It’s important to maintain perspective.
Every shift decreases the value of direct human contribution in certain ways.? However, every shift has also opened up previously unthought of human contribution value that create new industries and professions.??
Who would have ever thought of a job classification called “prompt engineering” just 6 months ago!
There are still things that sit above the AI Line that are uniquely human.
This is also not an exhaustive list, but you get the idea!
Anything that requires us to look after another human with concern, care or compassion, still remains human.
Creating a sense of greater safety for others, still remains human.
Setting the bigger picture and seeing beyond or behind the recorded history, information or data, still remains human.
Seeing the contrasts and what is NOT a part of the picture, still remains human.
Coming up with a new line of thinking or an alternative perspective not previously explored, still remains human.
Fostering relationships that allow for productive collaboration and collective contribution, still remains human.
Crafting a positive and powerful culture, still remains human.
Facilitating change across the collective, still remains human.
Being unique and dealing with the unexpected, still remains human.
Leadership still remains human.
Stewardship still remains human.
Doing the right thing still remains human.
Being fully, authentically human still remains human!
What Might It All Mean?
We are all challenged to get better at contributing.
We are all challenged with taking full responsibility for the technology we create and the ways we use it.
We can use AI to drive phenomenal business success and the market will expect bigger, better, easier and faster products and services as a consequence.
This is a new age of business and it’s exciting.? It also comes with real responsibility and accountability.
Let’s make sure that in amongst all the talk about the tools, tech and tactics that AI can deliver, we keep the conversation going about the stewardship over their use that only humans can bring to the table.
****************************************************************************
Thanks for reading -? every month I deliver my Monthly 20-Minute Teaching.
In the 20-Minute Teaching, I teach a key concept, strategy or tactic to help you out-think, out-sell and out-serve your marketplace.
This is a highly popular event and we don’t advertise it widely.? We publish a diary link the week before and from there, it’s on a first in best dressed basis until the Zoom room is full.??
If you’d like to join the early notification list to have the diary link sent to you, along with a workbook for the teaching (which is only available to the early notification list), click the link to register:
Creative Director and Co-Founder at Panjea
1 年do rise above it, Simon
Architect, Enterprise Solutions
1 年Beautiful analysis. Insightful. AS always. Thanks, Simon.
Create Workplace Harmony by Having the Tough Conversations you need to have, Dealing with Difficult People, and Instilling Best Practice Behaviour
1 年I think you've hit the nail on the head here. Yes it's all very well to use AI but how do you remain unique and, perhaps born fortunately, human
I help Owners of Million Dollar businesses to the Next Million with more Profit and less Stress | Your Business is Your Most Valuable Asset | Profit Mentor | Advisory Board | Mastermind Chair | Executive Leadership
1 年More great models Simon, us humans are a resilient lot and I'm sure we'll navigate the best path even at ever accelerating rates of change. We seek to first understand then adopt then embrace, its the standard process of test and try but we have to do it all so much faster now. Great article, thanks.
Helping Business Protect their Greatest Asset -Compliance Made Simple
1 年Thank you for sharing Simon. Had not seen it like this before. So important to know the difference and where to focus.