The world (as usual) is going crazy. Why, because there’s one (more!) technology that’s “going to disrupt” the way we going to live (yet again!). AI. ChatGPT. MidJourney. And the likes. For those of us at Konvos, these are exciting times. In the last few years, as we evolved from solving anxiety to optimising for emotional cognition. In the process, we have been grappling with some of the fundamental questions like “What makes us human”.
And with the best version of AI (apparently) being released, we asked this question again but with a slightly different tone —
“What aspects of human cognition will be difficult for advanced AIs to imitate in the coming decades”
Leadership — I have been in good teams. I have been in bad ones. Everything else considered equal, leadership at the top-most level — CEO, CTO, top management — is single-handedly the difference between good and bad teams. Even a good mid-level leader brings a huge change in the way teams orient and operate.
Decision making — Being a good leader in a way is about making the right bets. Knowing where to focus the budget on, predicting which organization changes are practical, and holding onto a conviction even things don’t look great — these are the qualities that got us to great inventions, huge market share and improved human lives.
Trust & Connection — Many times convincing a decision maker has a lot to do with your ability to connect with them and gain their trust. Many times decision makers are betting on the individual, not the idea. How you talk to the decision-makers, what aspects of the information you omit, what you include, and how you optimize messaging to individuals in the organization for improved collaboration — is why people will need you in their teams and projects.
Being responsible — At the end of it — only a human being can take the blame. Our entire social system is one based on incentives to get actions done. The need for people to own up and be responsible for outcomes at the workplace — is the reason why many of us will still have a job.
Differentiating Factor — All other things equal, when everyone uses AI, it’s going to be humans who are going to be a differentiation factor. This is why even though you will see a lot of Marketing work being replaced by AI, you will still have Marketers on the team.
Questions — This is something we realised very early at Konvos — the kind of questions we ask ourselves inside our heads, makes or breaks our intelligence. Our well-being and intelligence depend on this single factor. And in an AI world, this is going to be more critical.
In conclusion, as the world embraces advancements in AI, particularly with the advent of ChatGPT, certain aspects of human cognition will remain challenging for advanced AI systems to imitate in the coming decades. Leadership, decision-making, and the art of convincing decision-makers will continue to be vital human skills that contribute to successful teams and projects. Taking responsibility for outcomes and being accountable for achieving goals will remain a key differentiator for individuals in the workplace, even as AI becomes more prevalent. Finally, the ability to manage AI as a technology and use it effectively to achieve desired outcomes will be a crucial talent in the future. While AI presents incredible opportunities, the essence of being human and the unique capabilities we bring to the table will always be indispensable. P.S. — One paragraph here is written through AI. If you can find which one that is, then AI can’t replace you!