Making Friends with AI

AI and the future of work: What stays 100% human?

The bright side and the dark side of automation

AI systems analyze data, recognize patterns, and turn those patterns into output. (Learn more here.) They can mimic our behavior and they can blend what we show them into new combinations, tricking you into thinking something fundamentally new has happened, but AI systems can’t truly automate the big four:

• Decision-making (more info on why this is a human act)
• Design/Innovation (breakthroughs that shape our future)
• Art (more info on why this is a human act)
• Genuine social interaction (as a social species, we care if it’s the real thing)

These are uniquely human thinking tasks. While AI can automate thunking tasks, it can’t think for us. Thunking is the term I use to describe those tasks that are repetitive, predictable, and don’t require a high level of cognitive engagement, creativity, or critical thinking. These are the tasks that you can do almost on autopilot once you’ve figured out what needs to be done.

We have an unprecedented opportunity to leverage AI as a tool to free up more time for the thinking tasks that drive innovation and progress. So what are we so afraid of? (There is something to be genuinely worried about, but we’ll get to that in a minute.)

AI doesn’t automate thinking, but it…