"Human to the touch... the design will be extremely important."

There’s an ancient understanding about tools – that they’re not simply inert objects, but extensions of human will and imagination. Think of alchemy, where the alchemist’s crucible was more than metal; it was a vessel of transformation. Think of the legendary blacksmith, Wayland - a figure rooted in Germanic and Norse mythology. Wayland wasn't just a craftsman; he was a magician, a shaper of destinies. His hammer, anvil, and forge were extensions of his being, in perfect concert with his skills and sorcery.

In other words, pretty much how I see my phone.

We’ve been talking to everyday people around the world about a new tool we all now have access to – Generative AI – and how it’s likely going to impact and change their lives. Estair, a 21 year old from London, had what I think is a profound insight:

“The idea behind the Apple iPhone was that it would feel human to the touch because it was rounded and curved. You felt a sense of comfort with it. I think that idea needs to be brought into how we design AI. If it’s going to be a part of our daily routines, like how we use our phones, you would want to be the most comfortable with it that you can be. The design aspect of it will be extremely important.”

Think of Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches, how they brim with devices extending human capabilities. They embody the idea that tools are a physical manifestation of human will; that they’re a bridge from the tangible to the transcendent, that they’re conduits of human potential. Think about his most iconic sketch, Vitruvian Man. Vitruvius, a 1st century BCE Roman architect, believed that any structure, whether a temple or a tool, should resonate with the proportions of the human body - a philosophy Leonardo brilliantly illustrated with a man inscribed in both a circle and a square.

As Estair thinks about the design of AI, she’s tapping into this ancient and esoteric discourse. AI should not just be a tool, but an extension, a companion. Beyond just language models, code, and use-cases, generative AI can become our crucible, our anvil, and our canvas, echoing the same alchemical blend of the human and tool that Wayland exemplified.

What does this all imply? That the design of AI, as Estair hints, should not just be about creating smart machines, but about crafting experiences that resonate with our innate human nature.

The question now is this: how do we design machine intelligence in such a way that it carries the warmth of our touch, the rhythm of our pulse? How do we ensure that every interaction feels not just smart, but also inherently human?