AI MEETS UI: HOW HUMANITY CAN SUCCEED WITH TECHNOLOGY
As AI reshapes how we work, learn, decide and organise our lives, Nigel Nicholson asks whether technology will diminish what makes us human, or help us construct new environments in which our unique individuality can flourish.
By Nigel Nicholson
We are not just entering an era of Artificial Intelligence. The age of UI – Unique Individuality – is also upon us, brought on by technology that enables personalisation of much that we consume and use. You can already see it in health care – genetically engineered bespoke treatments; and in advertising – all those pop-ups tailored just for you. More is coming in every area of life. Intrusive? Scary? Life-enhancing? Yes, all of the above.
Yet, the media are full of scare stories about runaway robots up to no good. Let’s not blame the robots – they launch their actions from human designed protocols, and when they go beyond what we envisaged, it’s our failure not theirs – failing to see what might come of our own lax guardrails, defaults, and routines.
Human Nature – Threats and Possibilities
I find myself rejoicing in the labour-saving that AI is already giving me, but I can see and fear the destructive capabilities of unregulated initiatives it could dump on me. This is the Frankenstein problem – failure to manage what we create. The failure comes from 5 human traits.
