AI could allow us to finally understand our potential — but not necessarily in the way you think.

There’s a huge focus on the incredible advancements of Artificial Intelligence and its effect on the way we work, live, and connect with each other. It’s kind of a bizarre time to be thinking about human intelligence when we’re surrounded by such rapid technological progress. But that’s what I’ve been interested in for the last decade, human cognition. I spend a lot of my time thinking about thinking. Thinking about my thinking, but mostly, thinking about your thinking. 

Our Brains Are Thinking Machines

Metacognition, or thinking about thinking, is the approach that I’ve used to help thousands of people improve the way they communicate and lead others. It’s a fascinating field and I truly thought it would be my life’s work. But the more I got into it, the more I started to see, and experience myself, the limitations of our thinking. I even started to question if I was overlooking a different aspect of human intelligence. 

AI is a Thinking Machine Too

Only recently has it all come together and, strangely enough, it was AI that took my thinking in a new direction. I have a somewhat controversial stance on AI — my interest is not in the future of work or how organizations can use it to be more efficient and innovative. It’s obvious that the capabilities of AI are exponential. But more than that, I believe that many of the human traits that people claim cannot be replicated by AI actually are replaceable by machine technology. 

AI is inspired by the human brain and empowered by complex algorithms and neural networks that can achieve emotionally intelligent behaviours, for example, behaviors like empathy.

My view is that AI will be better at replicating empathy than most humans. As most of us would have to admit, humans are not very good at consistently being truly empathetic towards each other. Research proves that due to our internal biases, the ability to have empathy only occurs under extremely limited conditions. AI may not be able to feel empathy the way we do but it will be able to display it over and over again and be infinitely compassionate.

The Limits of AI… and Humans

If AI has the capability to supersede even our most human abilities — what’s left? How will we differentiate ourselves from the brilliant thinking machines that we’ve designed?

This is the existential question that I’ve been exploring. It started from a place of intellectual curiosity, and it’s grown into something much bigger. As I’ve been studying AI I’ve also been looking back at my life and how my thinking developed. 

Like AI, we start with a few lines of simple code. Over time, our internal coding becomes more complex and layered, and we are exposed to broader data sets. We use this information to understand the world around us and develop beliefs of who we are. The way that we perceive our experiences reinforces our coding and so in many ways, we become defined by our coding.

AI is restricted by its rational coding and its data. If the programming is flawed or the data is biased, AI is incapable of challenging the source. The complexity of neural networks means that even the most gifted programmers are often unable to trace the origin of these errors.

So, you can see where this comparison takes us — what if elements of our internal coding are inaccurate? Are we capable of correcting coding that we developed before we could even speak, listening to the voices of our parents when they were frustrated with us? How do we remove the lines of code that we wrote as children because of what a bully said? Can we adjust the images that defined how we wanted to look when we were awkward teenagers?

You Are Not Your Coding

I vividly recall moments in my life when I was able to override my internal coding. I remember the feeling of extreme clarity and inspiration — and I also remember how short-lived these moments were.

All of us have experienced these moments at one time or another. Some of us have used these moments as the impetus to achieve remarkable things. But most of the time, the moments slip by, overtaken by rational justifications and self-imposed limits.

I believe that we can change that. By understanding our cognition and studying how individuals have overcome their coding we can learn how to reveal our own true potential. Despite everything that’s going on in the world, this may be the most exciting time in human history. There’s a world of possibility beyond the machine.

Gregor Jeffrey is an expert on cognitive diversity. In his keynote “Beyond the Machine: Revealing Human Potential in the World of AI”, he shows audiences how the emergence of AI is an opportunity, providing invaluable insights into how they can use AI to unlock their true potential.

Watch the video below to learn more:

Contact us to learn more about Gregor and how he helps audiences overcome interpersonal challenges to reach their highest potential.