AI vs intuition: Does business trust code more than human insight?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly spreading through the business world and our daily lives. The IBM Global AI Adoption Index 2022 reveals that 35% of global businesses are eagerly embracing AI innovations, with another 42% actively exploring its potential. They are drawn by its promise to automate tasks, simplify decisions, and gain a competitive edge, despite its imperfections and ethical considerations.

However, amidst this technological evolution, a fundamental question arises: Is AI the ultimate solution, or is there an untapped resource that’s been available since the dawn of humanity? Enter intuition. Often underestimated and overlooked due to its perceived unreliability without data to validate or quantify it.

As we navigate the intricate interplay between AI and intuition, we must understand their roles and limitations, exploring the potential for intuition to complement data-driven decision-making.

AI has made significant progress since its emergence in the 1950s, evolving from basic problem-solving to machines capable of learning and performing complex tasks using data and algorithms. It's now widespread — think AI-driven marketing, fraud detection, and supply chain predictions. Siri, Alexa, and other tools simplify our lives daily, and the proliferation of conversational chatbots, such as Chat GPT, Bing Chat, and Bard, indicates the expanding influence of AI in the mainstream.

However, within this technological evolution, could we, like the process of training machines to become smarter, also cultivate our own intuition through learning?

As companies delve deeper into the realm of AI, questions and concerns also arise, as highlighted by UNESCO's AI ethics standards. This raises an interesting question: while embracing AI’s potential despite its imperfections, we often undervalue intuition, mirroring the inner workings of AI that baffle many.

Remember, just like AI, the effectiveness of intuition depends on the person using it. If someone lacks experience or struggles to overcome the barriers hindering trust in intuitive insights, its potential can take a hit. These obstacles, encompassed in the Six Barriers to Intuition — overthinking, fear, external influences, past experiences, short-term focus, and information overload, often lead to second-guessing and diminish our reliance on what ‘feels right’.

Vishen Lakhiani's journey: Trusting intuition for success

Vishen Lakhiani , the CEO and founder of Mindvalley , a digital education company worth $US100 million, provides a compelling illustration of the power of intuition in business. His journey began shortly after the dot-com bubble burst, where he found himself with no savings and had to rent a couch in Silicon Valley. Desperate for a breakthrough, Lakhiani took on a sales job involving cold calls.

However, Lakhiani's path took an unconventional turn when he started attending meditation classes based on The Silva Method. This meditation technique focused on presence, visualization, and intuition. Lakhiani decided to experiment by moving away from conventional sales approaches. He began randomly selecting prospects to contact, a decision that led to an unexpected outcome — an overnight doubling of sales.

This remarkable transformation later propelled Lakhiani to establish Mindvalley, and today, he is valued at $US40 million. His full story is here.

His strategy is universally accessible: "All you need to do is get into a rested state and trust your gut. Trust that intuition.”

Lakhiani's journey highlights the value of intuitive decision-making, which often offers quicker guidance and insight than AI. While no AI system can predict human purchasing decisions with the precision of intuition, this inner resource can provide a distinct competitive edge. What’s remarkable is that intuition isn’t a skill reserved for a chosen few; it can be developed through learning and practice. But, like any skill, it takes belief, dedication and commitment. To put it to the test, consider embracing intuition in your decision-making processes — the results might just surprise you.

Embracing the Artificial Intelligence Within You (AIU)

In this age of technology and AI integration, we have a unique opportunity to embrace our intuition, a natural gift present in all of us. While AI excels in logic and automation, it inevitable falls short in understanding our emotions and complex human circumstances. Our intuition, our personalized 'Artificial Intelligence Within Us (AIU),' bridges this gap, offering a distinctive advantage in decision-making.

Often misunderstood and undervalued, it’s up to us to learn more. By incorporating simple practices like mindfulness, relaxation and meditation — just as Vishan Lakhiani did with remarkable success — we can reboot our thought processes, enabling us to be more present and tune in closely to what our mind and body is trying to say to us.

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of the future, we find ourselves at the crossroads of trust — trust in our abilities, trust in our intuition, and trust in our potential to harmonize with technology. The choice is ours, and the possibilities are limitless.