Author: Dr. Steven Hickman
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public consciousness has been nothing short of remarkable and meteoric, especially in the last year. Against a semi-fictional sci-fi backdrop of killer robots and apocalyptic hellscapes, we are rapidly being introduced to the incredible (and incredibly scary) capabilities of computers to improve our lives in the modern digital age.
It is quite easy to be both enthralled by what AI can and might do for our quality of life, and terrified about how it might change our lives forever, or even make us obsolete as a species. For every innovative application of AI, like revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of disease, there are nightmare scenarios of human jobs (in healthcare, for example) being eliminated and unfeeling computers choosing treatment options for ill patients.
That’s a lot for a person to take in and manage, which is exactly why, now more than ever, we need to deepen and develop our uniquely human qualities and capabilities to navigate the uncertain road ahead. Whatever the future may hold in the age of AI, we humans need to cultivate the capacity to weather change, adapt to a shifting landscape, resist the urge to panic, keep our minds clear, and chart a course forward that taps into our human wisdom.
Focusing on the solution instead of the problem
Think about the various times that you have faced adversity in your life, especially those events that spring up unannounced and unexpectedly. Your favorite boss decides to quit and take a job at another company, for example. Or the project you’ve been working on for months is abruptly cancelled without notice. Recall how you first felt when you learned of these seemingly catastrophic turn of events, the emotions that hit you and the thoughts that you had. Naturally, it was upsetting and unsetting. And then, over time, you settled down and coped. Your nervous system settled down, you could think clearly about next steps, you took stock of the situation, and your view widened to the larger context of your situation.
This is a natural human process of your parasympathetic nervous system kicking in to steady you after the immediate threat (and fight-or-flight) has passed, and you need to move forward to address the challenge you face. Similarly with the onset of AI, you may feel a wave of panic when you contemplate how it might eliminate or significantly curtail your ability to work to support yourself or your family. You might fear all the things that could happen if your source of financial support was taken away.
These are all quite reasonable in the face of the unknown threat that AI may pose for any of us, and it’s natural to react with some degree of fear. But the key to navigating this tricky landscape is to cultivate a fair amount of equanimity (the ability to maintain mental calmness in a difficult situation) over time so that your brain is not hijacked by fear and you can still use your human capacity for reasoning, planning, assessing risk, and problem-solving. This human capacity can be systematically cultivated through mindfulness and other mental well-being practices that strengthen our capacity to navigate challenges.
Shifting to focus upon finding a solution to a challenge, rather than devoting too much mental and emotional energy on the presence of the problem itself, is a far more effective means of dealing with any challenge, and AI is no exception.
Over the millennia of human history, we have dealt with innumerable technological advancements that threatened our familiar way of life, yet we have continued to thrive because we focused on solutions rather than getting stuck on problems.
Don’t let go of what makes us uniquely humans
At least for the foreseeable future, computers do not have the capacity to feel or genuinely express emotions, and here is where we have an edge over technology to create the world that we want to live in. Our capacity to feel joy, sadness, fear, grief, wonder and awe (among many others) is our human superpower because these emotions inspire us to create art, to treasure nature, to work for equality and justice, to chart a course for an equitable society where humans can thrive, and to explore, innovate and expand our horizons.
To some extent, AI can develop art or accomplish certain tasks that further these various endeavors, but it is our human creativity that initiates those tasks. Finding a healthy balance between technology and human culture is in our hands, not our computers. As Joseph Fowler noted recently, “balancing technological advancements with the rich tapestry of human creativity will lead to a more diverse and resilient future.”
When computer graphic programs first came along, “traditional” artists dismissed them at first as somehow less legitimate than older techniques, but now there are amazing examples of art created using these modern tools, inspired by very human artists with a creative vision. When we take the time to reflect on what we wish to see in the world (beauty, peace, prosperity, meaning) we can guide and “inspire” the technology to help us achieve these things through the requests we make of it, the algorithms we write, the tasks we assign it and the guardrails we build to assure success and safety.
In order to achieve these admittedly lofty goals, we need to pause, settle, reflect and take the time to overcome our reactivity so we can think clearly. Cultivating the capacity to focus, concentrate, catch and redirect our wandering mind, and to have compassion for ourselves when we struggle and suffer, are all means of finding a more satisfying and promising pathway through the coming emergence of AI in all aspects of our lives. These mental well-being skills can be fostered and refined through consistent practice.
Embrace and cultivate human-centric skills like flexibility
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” is a quote often mis-attributed to Albert Einstein (the exact source is unclear). More importantly however, is the truth of it and the fruitlessness of remaining inflexible in the face of new information.
Given the inevitability of AI in the future of human society, it behooves us to look at what we do and how we can adapt, shift, or change to accommodate this new reality. Your willingness to think about what sort of human-centric skills you might possess or new things you could learn that AI is not so well-equipped to do, may determine your capacity to succeed over time.
Now, this is easier said than done. The key to success in becoming more flexible is self-observation and reflection. When you cultivate the capacity to become aware of your longstanding habits and patterns, and can evaluate their current effectiveness in leading you in your own valued directions, you will find that change is within your reach. Patience, flexibility, creativity and innovation are all human-centric qualities that are not necessarily always easy, but they are the essential, unique and valuable human tools that will support us in surviving and thriving in the new reality.
Understanding is the key to a growth mindset
One uniquely human habit that is perhaps our most dangerous capacity is that of denial. Covering your eyes, pretending AI will go away, or dismissing it as something that ‘doesn’t impact me’, are all ways of shielding yourself from the difficult feelings that may come up around the topic. While it might feel more manageable in the short run, it is the equivalent of putting a piece of tape over the “Check Engine” light in your car when it comes on. You won’t see the warning sign, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something that needs your attention.
Facing difficult things that are in front of us is at the heart of mental well-being. We can only address challenges, fix problems or chart a course for growth if we are willing to acknowledge the full reality of our situation. This is not to suggest becoming preoccupied with problems, but only to open our eyes intentionally to the full reality.
Take the time to study what AI actually is and what it isn’t, by reading articles and books that explore the topic in depth and from a balanced perspective. Marc Andreessen is a well-known AI expert who is very optimistic about its prospects and wrote an influential article on “Why AI Will Save the World” . Yuval Noah Harari has written a remarkable (and remarkably balanced) book that places AI in the larger historical context of humanity and its information networks called “Nexus”. Gary Marcus is a psychologist, cognitive scientist and author who is one of the leading (and most vocal) critics of AI.
By better understanding what AI truly is from a variety of perspectives, you can cultivate a growth mindset rather than a fear-based avoidance strategy. By doing this you can: learn to embrace change through viewing AI as an opportunity for growth and development rather than a threat; learn to navigate uncertainty and adjust to changing circumstances; and focus on continuous improvement by setting ambitious goals, seeking feedback, and striving for continuous learning throughout your career.