Almost every week I read an article or (more likely) scan a headline that ominously warns of artificial intelligence and its impending dangers (and possibilities) for our future.
Of course technology’s nasty habit of replacing human labor and expertise with machines–doing a task quicker, better, and cheaper than people can do it–is an obvious worry. Jobs will inevitably be lost, but perhaps other AI related jobs will be created. This flux is as old as time.
However, I remain skeptical of AI’s potential in the creative arts. For the time being. I don’t think an AI-generated Tom Hanks is going to provide a satisfying movie experience to an audience. At least not right now. However, when a younger generation grows up not knowing the difference between AI and human-created entertainment, I’m sure many actors, writers, directors, and producers will be in danger of being unemployed. Studios love to cut costs at every opportunity, except when it comes to executives’ salaries and perks, and they’re already eyeing AI as a way to create content without pesky artists and their incumbent labor unions.
This is not news. Many industries will face this trend.
However, we as individuals can draw a line between the economic and professional impact of AI and the personal impact of AI…and technology in general.
Instead of AI, we can choose AE…an Authentic Experience. It’s easy to see how our choices can limit the influence that AI can have in our daily lives: we can choose to see a play in theatre, with real live actors on stage in front of a real live audience, rather that stream a digitally-created sci-fi film at home.
We can meet friends at a restaurant instead of on a Zoom call. We can visit national parks instead of watching YouTube videos. When possible, we can conduct our business in person while banking, and shopping, while networking and exercising, while reading (print books) and learning (in person classes or lectures).
In short, we can boycott AI generated or even AI assisted products.
Furthermore, when someone tells us, ‘You know, you can find all this information on our website,’ you can respond, ‘I know, but I’d like to have an authentic experience. I’d like to speak to someone in person about this.’
Yes, it might take a little more time and a little more effort, but by articulating your preference for human interaction and personal service, you’ll be able to set the standard for how you socialize and communicate with your friends…and how you do business with companies.
Make the Authentic Experience standard and practice as much a part of your daily life as you can. Because life is only as artificial as you let it be.
- BGT
Byron – I understand exactly where you’re coming from, and I want the same. The promise of AI is that it will free up time so we can have more high quality human interactions.
But the AE is more expensive to deliver so customers need to be prepared to pay extra for that level of service. Second, we’ll increasingly see customers *prefer* AI interactions over humans because AI can be trained to be super friendly, helpful and incredibly polite. They never have bad days, and they will always provide the highest level service possible.
I know of a large services company that is eliminating their entire tier 1 support and replacing all these employees with AI bots.
AI bots will rapidly become indistinguishable from humans from the customer’s perspective resulting in more profitable companies and millions of lost jobs world-wide.
I was in transit at Amsterdam airport one day and needed to check in for my next flight. There was a row of machines and just two uniformed ladies on the counter. Two of the machines didn’t recognize my passport so I went to the counter. The older of the two ladies was quite ‘forceful’, if that’s the word, in asking me why I did not use the machine. I replied politely by saying that there were two reasons.
‘What are they, she said’:
I said that firstly, the machines do not recognize my passport. (Believe it or not, she then asked me what the second reason was.) I replied that soon, very soon, and pointing to the machines, those (machines) are going to put you and the young lady beside you, OUT OF WORK.
Let me simply conclude by saying that what I received was gold-plated service. Nothing was too much trouble and there was no limit to the politeness and courtesy I received.
I agree with Byron. Fully. Whenever it is possible, I interact with living, breathing people. And I often think of something I heard in the US: “ You can attract more bees with honey, than you can with vinegar”.
Regards,
David.
In my experience, whenever I reach out to any company/institution etc. for meeting a need of mine, I find I’m far more likely to get what I’m hoping for if I make a phone call rather than simply sending an email or filling out an online Contact Us form. Even though it takes a little effort to expend some energy making phone calls or better yet visiting in person, I have noticed the difference in service.
Great post Mr. Tully. I am reminded of two other similar articles that you wrote of. Similar to cell phones or social media, I believe AI may not be made or used with the best outcome for the user. The other point is security, having a human contact is a layer of security that can be invaluable when AI is already mimicking people online. Like all things, we must be skeptical and trust is earned.
The experience of an in-person quartet can’t be replicated with virtual reality, no matter how good the sound or video quality is. Being able to talk to the artist after the performance or at a fund raising event where there’s a mutual connection, that is the essence of a good life.
Well said! However, I am planning to bring AI consciously into my courses/classroom this fall nonetheless. Albeit with templates and checklists for student teams to utilize it in their collaborative projects — should they decide to — to promote transparent, ethical, and reflective use of the technology.
They’ll need to do be able to do that once they are catapulted into the 21st century professional world after graduation according to everything I read. It’s all about providing real-world skills to students along with course-specific content, which, let’s be brutally honest, most will have long forgotten five or ten years from now.
All of that said, I agree with your point about authentic experiences with actual human beings in physical spaces.
Kind Regards,
This reminds me of a decision made in my community recently.
The food co-op where I do a lot of my shopping surveyed the membership regarding whether or not to install “self-service checkout” lanes. The eventual decision was to add a few of those lanes, keep some standard lanes, and also add two “intentionally slow/social” lanes. What a lovely experience those lanes have become!
AI…….. Meh. I’ve been in IT for nearly 30 years. AI is the big push to learn now, my company and lots of other big IT companies are gearing up to offer AI as part of their portfolio. I know the basics of it from an IT perspective and what they are looking to eventually accomplish with it. I’m in agreement with what the others have posted on this. And to add my thoughts from someone in the field, before long, it’s going to become dangerous from several perspectives, and anyone willing to pay can have it developed for any reason. It’s bubble will burst eventually in some areas, but unfortunately, not all.
Thanks for suggesting this AE, Authentic Experience, concept. It makes me feel better about the future, because it’s something I can choose.