The Human Advantage

As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, and as we rapidly progress towards the era of Artificial General Intelligence, the question that has become increasingly relevant is:

What is the human advantage? i.e. What unique strengths we (humans) have that even an advanced AI system will not be able to replicate them?

The rapid progress in AI in recent years has been largely driven by a combination of factors: availability of abundant energy needed for computation, advances in the hardware and computing capabilities, availability of big data, advances in machine learning, cloud computing, and open-source softwares. These drivers are likely to continue to fuel progress in AI in the coming years, leading to even more powerful and capable AI systems.

In the midst of AI's remarkable advances, it's essential to acknowledge the distinct areas where humans excel. Thanks to our exceptional biology and cognitive capabilities. Recognising and leveraging these unique strengths is crucial as we navigate a world increasingly characterised by automation and digitalisation.

Here are top 6 attributes that makes us (humans) unique:

1.Common Sense:

Humans have common sense, which allows us to use our judgment and make decisions based on experience and intuition. Common sense is a critical skill in many areas of life, such as understanding sarcasm or irony, or knowing when to take risks. While AI has made significant progress in recent years, it still struggles with tasks that require common sense. Understanding cause and effect is an important aspect of what we call common sense, and it’s an area in which AI systems are totally clueless. Even higher level of causal thinking would be the ability to reason about why things happened and ask “what if” questions, which AI systems are not capable of doing.

2.Critical thinking:

AI systems are good at processing large amounts of data, but they lack the ability to reason and think critically. Developing critical thinking skills, such as analyzing complex information, identifying biases, and evaluating arguments, will be important for decision-making and problem-solving. Several studies suggest that while AI has made significant progress in recent years, humans still have an edge when it comes to critical thinking and reasoning skills. AI algorithms may struggle with generalization, flexibility, and context-sensitivity, which are essential components of human-like reasoning.

3.Creativity:

One of the areas where humans outperform AI is in creativity. While AI can generate novel outputs based on existing patterns, it still lacks the ability to imagine and create entirely new concepts or ideas. Research has shown that humans are better at generating new ideas and creating unique solutions to problems. This is because humans have the ability to think outside the box, make connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, and come up with new and innovative ways of doing things. In a study published in 2020 in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers from the University of Cambridge and University College London asked participants to create a series of abstract artworks. The participants were then asked to rate the creativity of human created artworks and those created by an AI system. The researchers found that the human artworks were rated as more creative than the AI artworks, even though the AI system had been trained on a large dataset of existing artworks. A study published in 2019 in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that people were better than AI systems at generating new and diverse ideas in a variety of tasks, including brainstorming, ideation, and design.

4.Emotional Intelligence:

Another area where humans excel over AI is emotional intelligence. Humans have the ability to understand and regulate their emotions, as well as empathize with others. This allows us to form meaningful relationships with others and navigate complex social situations. In contrast, AI does not have emotions or empathy, which can limit its ability to interact with humans in a nuanced way. Research has shown that humans are better than AI at recognizing facial expressions and other nonverbal cues that convey emotional information (Gross & Dziobek, 2018). This ability is critical for building and maintaining relationships, as well as for making decisions that are sensitive to the emotional needs of others.

5.Contextual Understanding:

Humans also have the ability to understand the context of a situation and use this understanding to make decisions. This is a critical skill in many areas, such as business, law, and medicine. While AI can process vast amounts of data and make predictions based on that data, it may struggle to understand the nuances of a situation that can only be gleaned through experience and intuition. A recent study conducted by researchers at MIT and Harvard found that humans were better than AI at identifying objects in images, even when the images were distorted or obscured (Geirhos et al., 2018). This study showed that humans have a unique ability to recognize objects based on contextual information, such as the overall shape of the object or its position in the image. This ability is essential for tasks such as navigating a complex environment or identifying potential threats. Another study conducted by researchers at Stanford University found that humans were better than AI at detecting sarcasm in social media posts (Davidov et al., 2010). This study demonstrated that humans have a unique ability to interpret social cues and understand the context of a situation, which is essential for effective communication.

6.Adaptability:

Adaptability is another area where humans outperform AI. Humans can quickly change their behavior or approach based on new information or changing circumstances. This is because we have the ability to learn from our experiences and adapt to new situations. In contrast, AI is often limited by the algorithms and data that it has been programmed with.

Then the next key questions that arises:

Are these unique human skills (common sense, critical thinking, contextual understanding, emotional intelligence, creativity, adaptability) genetic or can it be developed?

Some researchers argue that these attributes have a strong innate component. For instance, studies have shown that creativity is heritable and that individuals with certain genetic markers are more likely to exhibit higher levels of creativity (Kaufman & Sternberg, 2010). Similarly, research has shown that emotional intelligence has a strong genetic component, with estimates of heritability ranging from 30% to 50% (Vernon et al., 2008).

However, it is also widely accepted that these attributes can be developed through practice and our social upbringing. For instance, exposure to different cultures, languages, and experiences can enhance contextual understanding and adaptability. Similarly, children who are taught to express and regulate their emotions are more likely to develop higher levels of emotional intelligence.

Moreover, education, training, and practice can also enhance these attributes. For example, musicians, artists, and writers often develop their creativity through years of training and practice. Similarly, therapists, counselors, and coaches develop their emotional intelligence through training and practice.

In the face of the impending artificial general intelligence (AGI) revolution, it is crucial that we, as humans, prioritise honing above competencies that are distinctively human. By placing emphasis on developing and enhancing these invaluable competencies, we can position ourselves to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world where the machines are set to play a more significant role than ever before. Failure to invest in these attributes risks the potential obsolescence of human expertise, while a strong focus on cultivating these skills could lead to novel breakthroughs and achievements beyond the scope of machine capabilities.