It wasn’t the compelling prologue of The Coming Wave: AI, Power, and Our Future by author Mustafa Suleyman, that jump-started me to read through the rest of the book, but the explicit reveal that it was written by artificial intelligence that piqued my interest. And before you could fathom the impact, ‘Through The eyes of Code’ AI writes a book (well, yes) on AI. Chances are, while we are busy debating or assimilating how AI will impact our lives and the world, reality is that AI is integral to our day-to-day chores.
Intelligence rules. That’s why the stakes are different this time. We have created something that thinks faster and independently of us. Feeling vulnerable is expected. But then, when has the human race not created something superior to itself? Look around — cars, planes, ships, windmills, turbines, machines, satellites, internet, nuclear science, life science, and much more; we do it to make us and our lives better. stronger.
The idea has always been to augment ourselves. Forward always.
So, where does the journey towards the ‘unknown to the known’ start? It begins with using it. Naysayers may count the perils. But the threat is not AI, we know its those who use it. Learn to use the power in the right way (Responsible AI. Disclosed AI. Controlled AI) to your advantage. AI is shaping and sharpening creativity, productivity, and efficiencies differently, if we go beyond mere transactions.
Bring on Clarity
AI is a genie in your hands. Rub the lamp (aka give a Prompt) and voila! You see things done. The Output. Does it make you lazy and dumb? Maybe not.
Quality and Accuracy of output depend on the input. ‘Garbage in. Garbage out’. The better the Prompt, the closer you get to success with the output. You know how far you go with lousy prompts (if you know, you know).
The first step towards a Prompt is asking yourself, ‘What do you want?’ Prompts can power our cognitive skills in many ways.
- You know the inputs, but want to explore possible outcomes (AI gives options)
- You have a vision but don’t know what goes into achieving it (AI gives ingredients)
- You know the inputs and outcome but lack clarity on the process (AI shows the path(s)
- You know the inputs, process and the outcomes expected (AI finetunes it)
AI gives its best when you give it your best. Prompts are subtly ‘rewiring cognitive skills’. The more you use AI, the more you seek clarity first in what you need (to get a quality output).
Yes, AI induces clarity.
Beyond just key(buzz)words
Search engines needed keywords. Keywords allowed brevity. Just one word could give results. The better the keywords, the better the resources thrown in. Then, sift through the results to stitch the story yourself. No conversations allowed. No improvisations offered. You get what you asked for.
Context and Purpose are very important to AI. Throw in the context, persona, ideas, and some finetunes, and AI will dish out tantalising options. It’s interactive, participative, fun. It does not litter results; it stitches a story.
Yes, AI aims for Purpose.
Overcome inertia
AI has no place for procrastination. It prods you towards the next step. Output delivered, alright. What’s next? You can go multiple ways.
- Deep dive (what to keep doing/knowing more)
- Pivot (move on to something different)
- Transform (convert it into a pdf. Deck, talking points, visuals)
Look at them as more than just nudges. Stop not till the final goal is reached.
Yes, AI disciplines you to the logical closures.
LevelUp Thoughts
Every idea matters. AI zooms in to shape up sketchy thoughts. AI zooms out to give the crux. AI does not let any idea go to waste. It guides how you can make use of an idea by thinking along multiple chains of thought. Double-click and extrapolate it into workable actions. It cautions, suggests pitfalls and ways out too.
Yes, AI shapes up ideas.
The reverse is true too. Dabbling with way too many ideas and lost in the tapestry of myriad thoughts? AI Frameworks cuts through the noise and helps zero in on the key aspects.
Yes, AI makes it succinct.
Skills democratization
AI is a new game with new rules. It makes a non-writer a writer, a non-graphic designer a designer, a non-coder a coder, a non-data person an analyst. It flipped the script and levelled up the playing field for everyone. It bridged the gap of knowledge, capabilities, skills and more. Don’t think about how it replaces human work. Think what humans can do with its power, which they would not have been able to do otherwise. It gives that power: to Be more, Do more, Value-add more.
Experience with AI is the biggest teacher of Dos & Don’ts of using AI
- Hallucinations teach you not to trust blindly. Cross-check the sources, references and acknowledge its biases.
- Responsible AI tells you what’s created using AI and what’s original/copyright body of work.
- Sanctity of data is a responsibility & choice. Laws are evolving. Compliance frameworks are in progress. Using AI with caution is the caveat.
- The more you use AI, the more you know its limitations. Everything has a pattern (as various theories corroborate like M-Theory, Pattern Theory, E8 Theory etc.), you may notice the AI you use operates with a pattern too. We already know and sense it in so many LinkedIn posts of pseudo-wisdom and overbeaten experience-sharing rather than the authentic, original posts in their raw avatar.
Don’t offload your cognitive capabilities. AI is an Ally. Not a substitute.
AI is creating new experiences, new work, new solutions at a speed and ease never experienced before. Confusion & Chaos are given. Immerse-Experience-Champion it. (Just Do It)
What created ‘super intelligence’ could create much more and beyond. Human intelligence is ever-evolving, knows no limits. It almost takes you back to the same classroom debates, ‘Science is a boon or a bane’. And, you would always sum up saying Science is a Power, how you use it makes it good or bad. Some fundamentals have not changed, and so is the case with AI.
Yes, Artificial Intelligence can build up Human Intelligence capital.
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The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.
