Innovation, AI and the Human Spark: Finding the Balance

I was recently reflecting on how some of the ideas from The Fountainhead seem to show up in the way we’re handling AI today.

(Slight detour) I have always liked the idea of individualism, (even before I knew Ayn Rand) in fact when John Forbes Nash Jr. talks about the Nash equilibrium, in A Beautiful Mind, I immediately took it up as a mathematical way of understanding individualism! The theorem states that when every participant in a game (or an economic scenario) makes the best possible decision for themselves, it results into the best outcome for a group.

How individualism came into the picture, you ask?

In the novel (The Fountainhead) Howard Roark challenges every contemporary norm that was followed in architecture. Right from his academia till his job, he was reluctant to follow the crowd, rather he insisted on a personal vision that refuses to settle for the status quo. In many ways, I feel, the folks working in AI share that same drive to rethink how things are done.

AI: Redefining Our Old Work Methods?

Let’s start with a simple idea: art that isn’t made by human hands. I have always believed that the primary difference between humans and machines is our flair for creativity, whether it's expressed in prose or painting.

That being said, we now have an AI system that can create a series of paintings and at times something weirdly interesting images, depending on the prompt of course. The following image captures the essence of what I mean by “weirdly interesting”.

These aren’t just copies or style imitations, AI is creating something with its own unique twist. It reminded me of how Roark’s designs forced people to reconsider what architecture could be. (Now even AI powered machines can break the mold.)

Similarly, in everyday business, AI tools are making a difference. Think about customer support. There was a time when we’d spend ages waiting on hold or sending emails into a black hole. Remember the time when we used to book tickets for trains or flights. How tedious was it?

Now, many companies use chat systems that can understand a customer’s request quickly and clearly. Whether it’s healthcare helping doctors sift through patient data or finance spotting unusual patterns in transactions, AI is reshaping our work.

The Contributions of Trailblazing Minds

A bigger chunk of this real estate comes from people with a clear vision for the future. I’ve had some enlightening conversations with professionals who remind me of those characters in The Fountainhead, people who dared to go beyond the established methods. Maybe ‘coz they were able to find the gaps within the existing systems.

One such conversation was with Nitin Seth (while he was preparing for a podcast, I’ll share the link once its live). He talked about understanding the conversation gap, a point where a dialogue naturally falls short, and creating SMS-Magic . In simple words, he believes that a well-timed, personalized SMS can bridge that gap and re-engage a customer at just the right moment. It’s about knowing when and how to communicate so that the conversation never really dies.

Then there’s Sandip More . Over several chats & meetings spanned over months, he helped me get a better grasp on how Conversive , the AI infused conversational messaging platform enables businesses to cultivate meaningful one-on-one conversations. Rather than being just another automated response tool, its features allow businesses to hold personalized conversations with their customers across verticals. I learned that it’s not about sending generic messages but about using data from previous interactions to tailor responses, making every engagement feel like a natural extension of an ongoing conversation. Sandip’s insights really drove home the idea that technology, when understood well, can serve as a practical tool to help real people, not just as a buzzword, and that got me excited to collab in the first place.

The Roark Effect: Balancing Bold Innovation with Real-World Impact

Of course, every radical change be it any movement is not an overnight’s work, it has its own pace and comes with its own set of debates. Just as The Fountainhead stirred up strong feelings about art and architecture, AI’s rise has sparked questions about its broader effects on society. One major area of discussion is employment. There’s a lot of talk about how automation might replace certain jobs, even as it creates new roles in tech and data analysis.

Then there’s the issue of fairness, for instance, there is a case where an AI tool used in recruitment ended up favouring certain profiles over others, simply because of the data it was trained on. These issues remind us that while technology can be a powerful tool, it also requires careful thought about how it’s applied. Tatyana Mamut, PhD often points out that “AI agents need a Manager”, it cannot operate effectively without human oversight to ensure alignment with business goals, ethical considerations and contextual decision-making.

The same energy that drives someone like Roark to create something unique can also lead to challenges if not balanced with a concern for the broader impact on people’s lives.

Automation Advances, but the Human Touch Prevails

What I personally liked about AI is not the tech behind it but how we, as individuals and communities, approach change. Like, Carey Lening, I’m also,

“vacillating between cautious optimism, existential dread, and excitement about the possibility of it all”.

Whether it’s through rethinking art, reimagining customer support or reworking recruitment processes, the human element remains central. Fully autonomous systems, may be in future, but as far as I'm concerned, nothing beats that quirky & unpredictable human spark.

Nitin Seth’s idea of spotting conversation gaps and using SMS to keep things flowing, along with Sandip More’s practical take on using AI in communication platform, are clear examples of this.

They both show that real progress isn’t about the flashiest tool or the loudest claim. It’s about understanding the small moments, the pause in a conversation, the brief window when a customer is ready to engage, and turning those into opportunities for connection.

For me, these examples underscore a larger lesson: whether we’re talking about architecture or artificial intelligence, the goal is the same. It’s about making our work more human. It’s about crafting experiences that feel personal, thoughtful and real. And it’s a reminder that, no matter how advanced our tools become, the heart of any progress lies in genuine human interaction.

As we continue to navigate this evolving landscape, I’m grateful for conversations with people like Nitin and Sandip. The patience they keep while explaining the nuances of technological shifts in everyday realities. It makes a big difference for the team and me, whether we're working from home or in the office, ‘coz it helps us stay focused on what really matters: building real connections and making meaningful progress.

It all comes down to having the courage to step forward, even when the path isn’t completely clear. In the spirit of that honest approach to life and work, I’m reminded of a quote that perfectly captures this mindset:

As Roark himself said, “men who took first step down the new road armed with nothing but their own vision”.