Cultural tools made us who we are: Human development and AI

Side by side with Milan Gospic , CEO 微软 Serbia

A question that gets raised recently is: “Will AI make us dumber?”.

Let’s try to unpack what this means. In terms of human cognition, it may mean we will lose our edge in thinking, reading or learning and become lazy because AI would do most of the work for us. In terms of human metacognition (thinking about thinking), it may mean we will lose our edge in goal setting, planning, coordinating and self-regulation because AI would do most of this kind of work for us.

Well?

Let’s look at history and some theory for advice on this.

Role of tools in human development

How do we evolve as a human species and as individuals? One way to answer this question is by pointing to the role social tools we built.

But what to we mean by social tools? These tools shape how people think, learn and communicate. Take written language as an example - its invention enabled recording and transmission of information across time and space. Or mathematical language that enabled representing and solving problems in quantitative terms. Then take computers as tools that supported us in information? processing, learning and research. According to developmental psychologists like Vygotski or Bruner , development of tools reflects a development of humans.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be seen as another example of social tools that enhance human cognitive and metacognitive development. We may think of AI as a form of a “scaffold” may help us learn, think strategically, innovate and change the way we approach different tasks. In other words, we may think of AI as our cognitive and metacognitive “scaffold”.

Somewhere in the 1960s, Engelbart , a pioneer in the field of human-computer interaction, used the term “augmentation” to describe the impact technology can have on human cognition. His vision was to create tools that would significantly enhance human cognitive processes, enabling people to solve complex problems more efficiently. His work laid the foundation for the development of interactive computing and the modern graphical user interface. Engelbart’s philosophy of augmentation resonates with how we can view AI today.?

AI and Human Development: Insights from Milan Gospi?

Microsoft is one of the global driving forces in AI development and its integration into human development, learning and work. Microsoft is pioneering AI research with focus areas on: understanding general AI and its capabilities, driving AI innovation that can adapt to new tasks, utilize long term memory and reason across multiple modalities, ensuring AI is fair, accountable, transparent and ethical, transforming scientific discovery and extending human capabilities.

AI as cognitive partner

Microsoft and LinkedIn's 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report highlights the rapid integration of AI in the workplace, noting that 75% of interviewed ?global knowledge workers are now using generative AI. Despite the demand from employees for AI tools, many leaders struggle with implementing AI strategically due to ROI concerns and lack of clear plans. The report underscores the transformative potential of AI, showing that it helps users save time, focus on important tasks, and boost creativity. However, the rise of "Bring Your Own AI " (BYOAI) presents challenges for data security and strategic deployment. To address these issues, Microsoft emphasizes the need for organizations to integrate AI into business processes, foster a culture ready for AI innovation, and prioritize training to harness AI’s full potential. As AI continues to reshape the job market and work dynamics, it offers new opportunities for career advancement, making AI aptitude a critical skill for the future workforce.

To accelerate the discovery of early insights into AI's influence on cognition and work, Microsoft has funded several pilot collaborations. These collaborations explore various aspects of human-AI interaction and user experience, such as Copilot for Worker Wellbeing, Large Language Models and Digital Empathy, and Metacognition and Trust in Human-AI Collaboration . They also address AI in jobs, teamwork, and collaboration, investigating the effects of team composition with M365 Copilot, the creation and effectiveness of prompt engineering, and the value of goal-adaptive meeting interfaces for reducing cognitive load and improving meeting effectiveness. Microsoft also collaborates on projects that explore how AI can support creative practices across disciplines. These projects examine the role of AI in improving workflow efficiency, enriching user experiences, and inspiring creativity. Notable research includes using AI models like DALL-E 2 and GPT-4 to aid in creative drawing and thematic coding or investigating AI's ability to understand and utilize emotional intelligence.

At Kou?ing centar we also explore interconnections of AI and employee learning and development, by crafting our own tools like AI Tutor, AI Coach, AI Mentor and AI diagnostic dashboard that augment the learning process, personalize learning experiences and allow real time knowledge management between learners, facilitators and educational administrators. As we move forward, we envision Microsoft solutions, such as Copilot as our preferred AI environment for corporate L&D.

AI as a metacognitive partner

One of the recent Microsoft research project that draw our attention at Kou?ing centar was on the interplay between AI and metacognition. In their study, the research team led by Lev Tankelevitch explore how metacognition provides a valuable perspective for understanding challenges of generative AI systems around prompting, assessing and relying on outputs, and workflow optimization. In their study, Tankelevitch and his team highlight the significant cognitive demands that generative AI systems place on users. These systems require users to engage in high levels of metacognitive monitoring and control to effectively interact with AI outputs.

In our own research at Kou?ing centar we also investigate metacognitive capabilities of AI and compare them with human metacognition in complex situational judgment. The inteplay between human and AI metacognition may serve in future as one of the playgrounds for human augmentation. Think of an AI tool that acts as a Metacognitive Coach that is available to you whenever you need it and helps you set goals, organize your own work and monitor your progress. That is only a glimpse into AI as a metacognitive partner from an L&D perspective.

Team AI as a partner

As agentic AI (or ability to deploy different AI agents to coordinate on a task or set of tasks)? becomes more and more important topic, Microsoft is leading the field with project Autogen . Autogen is an open-source framework that leverages multiple agents to enable complex workflows. It means like having a Team of AIs that are available for various work tasks, that communicate between each other and can be coordinated in real time.

Microsoft is already researching into ways to make AI agents more empathetic towards worker’s goals by understand broader wellbeing goals beyond saving time. Microsoft's AutoGen framework may reduce the cognitive load on humans by automating routine and complex problem-solving processes, allowing them to focus on higher-order thinking and decision-making. It can track and evaluate the steps taken in a workflow, offering real-time feedback and suggestions. This supports metacognitive monitoring by allowing humans to reflect on their cognitive processes and strategies, enhancing self-awareness and regulation.

Innovative approaches in building AI augmented learning and development may also benefit from integrating agentic systems. Our team at Kou?ing centar is closely monitoring these innovations in order to improve our own AI solutions. Imagine learners had available a team of AI Tutors, Mentors, Simulators (and who knows what more!) that communicate between each other, coordinate and switch tasks as required. Or even more futuristic vision in which a Team of AIs is there for employees to support them as cognitive or metacognitive partners, continuously leading improvement in the good old area of human soft skills.

Partnering with AI in a new computer era

Another recent announcement by Microsoft is Copilot+PCs . These new PCs are designed to enhance productivity and creativity through advanced AI features, Copilot+ PCs?are the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever built. With all-new system architecture to bring the power of the CPU, GPU, and now a new high performance Neural Processing Unit (NPU) together. Connected to and enhanced by the large language models (LLMs) running in our Azure Cloud in concert with small language models (SLMs) .The integration of these advanced AI capabilities means that Copilot+ PCs can act as next generation partners in augmenting human cognitive and metacognitive functioning.? With all the AI tools that are available already and all that will be available, it seems we may rest assured that a learning curve is waiting for us as a species. During this learning journey into how AI is a helpful cognitive, metacognitive or work partner, we may witness a next generation of co-evolving with technology.