It’s time we had a serious talk about AI.
I’m not just referring to how it can (fill in the blank) help/harm us in our daily work world, eliminate essential jobs from skilled laborers/create jobs for a new sector, dim things down by writing or doing research that we – gasp! – used to do ourselves, and all those other things you might think about when you see those two initials pop up in our daily media streams. Do you know the definition of artificial intelligence, though? Check this one out: “AI is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, such as computer systems.”
Pause while that sets in.
And let’s face it, in general, a person’s opinion about AI is going to be swayed in one direction or another based on the age group to which they belong. If this is a lightbulb moment for you, then I’m guessing you might fall in a more advanced age category where one tends to think, “Oh, that’s just another high-tech thingee I have to learn to prove my validity in the work force.” (Usually said with a sigh, followed by an exaggerated eye roll.) However, if you enthusiastically embrace AI and are constantly seeking ways in which to incorporate it into your daily existence, then it’s a good bet you’re on the younger end of the population.
But what if instead of talking about how we can “simulate” human intelligence, we flipped the switch and defined AI as Authentic Interaction. That’s right. Authentic. Interaction.
Pause (again) while that one sets in because you really need to. Authentic interaction seems counterintuitive to the current definition of AI, doesn’t it? And yet it lands a bit more softly into dialogue. Like a gentle reminder that humans need other humans, ones that communicate honestly and truthfully, human beings to human beings. And we crave connections with others, aka interactions, because the ability to interact with others is crucial to our survival.
So, what does all this mean to you right now, and how can it relate to our current use of the terminology associated with artificial intelligence? Let’s use the authentic interaction definition as a reminder that simulated intelligence should never entirely replace genuine human intelligence. Use it as needed, but never forget the importance of human interactions —one-on-one conversations, picking up the phone, making the time to personally visit with someone and be present, following through on that RSVP you’ve been hesitant about, and truly prioritizing your in-person attendance because you want to shake hands and network with people face-to-face. These interactions are reminders that — first, still and always — we are humans who need authentic interactions with others.
