While I studied Computer Science there has always been this magic world of AI. There were students with greasy hair and hunched backs exploring the possibilities of AI in the cellars of uni. It was a nerdy field that seemed so far away.
But now since 2021/2022, we are bombarded with AI everywhere. Apps, chats, and bots are popping up like mushrooms in spring out of the ground. It writes for us, makes art, and music for us, and much much more.

The worst in all of this is that the results seem as good and more times even better than human-generated art, texts, or music. So now after the turmoils of the last three years, where the world seemed to end and now war-lusting governments are showing off their muscles we are with the technology of AI thrown into yet another part of irritation and turmoil: And the question it raises is: Is AI going to replace us? Where is our place in all of this?

Some influential voices are telling us through the media: Look, you human beings are too many, you are destroying this world and you are unworthy because you are selfish, imperfect, and greedy beings. What you can do, AI technology can do better.
We just need you for now for learning purposes and then…yes, what then? Where is our place in an AI-generated world then? And the question that a lot of us might have. Is an AI that becomes aware of itself going to kill us, because it will indeed see us as the destroyer of this earth?

There are so many variables that go into this whole topic, that we cannot foresee what is going to happen in the far or even near future. But, we have to realize that AI will be a part of our world. It will be inevitable. We cannot stop this. Instead of being afraid of it, we have to integrate it in the best way possible. So that we can work with it in conjunction and mutually enrich each other. And therefore, create a life that is richer and much more natural to us. So here are my suggestions, on what seems to be a good way to approach AI. We can break it down to this one statement:

“Find humanity again!”

We live in a meritocracy nowadays. A highly competitive performance-oriented society. It is a form of society, where monetary value is put on behaviours that come from logical intelligence. This intelligence is created by the left brain. To understand what I mean we have to look at how our brain works. The following explanation is of course a very basic approach. There is much more to the brain, but for the sake of understanding, we look at the two brain hemispheres.

• Left hemisphere = rational and logical
  • loves to put things in order or sequence
  • loves logic, statistics, and patterns
  • Analytical
• Right hemisphere = emotional and analogical
  • Senses non-verbal communication (posture, eye contact, tone of voice)
  • Cares about the big picture → holistic
  • Creates a “gut feeling” or “heartfelt sense” → intuitive
  • Is more influenced by the body

People that function from purely the left side of their brain are considered – at least in the economic context – the most valuable. Those people are efficient and productive. They see the world around them as a pool of resources. These resources need to be optimized so they can create the most profit out of them. They can take decisions quickly because no emotions are blocking them. Operating from the left hemisphere led to our economic rise in the last 70 years. A huge development for humanity. We have created a world where the goal is to get higher and further at all costs.

That is why intelligent psychopaths are so successful in this world. What we would consider a high cost, like lives being destroyed through our decision, a psychopath wouldn’t even consider this a cost at all. Their ability to rationalize is something a lot of us don’t even understand. And somehow – it seems – that we love this approach because it led to the economy we have today.

But because this system feeds preferably one breed of the world, meaning the left hemisphere breed, a lot of people are to this day struggling and suffering. People that are predominantly right-brain oriented are seldom successful in an economic-based environment. There are writers, artists, and musicians that fight in this world for a small piece of the money cake. And now – it seems – is AI attacking this field too. Are creatives now doomed to lose their position in this world to AI technology? In my opinion, this is not the case, and here is why:

1. AI needs us

AI is not generating stuff on its own. It still needs us to create our visions. Maybe someday – if AI gains consciousness – it will have the desire to create stuff out of its own will, but we are not there yet. So AI can be used to create our vision. It can give us inspiration from generating a first idea or a draft that we tell it to do.

This process normally takes us weeks or even months. It can show possibilities and spark our creativity. Apart from it needing us to start to generate art, texts, or music we are still in the position to evaluate what it has created. Because we can activate our right brain. The right brain can see nuances, can see analogies, which are innately human.

2. Disconnect to connect

Because AI is a sophisticated left brain mechanism, which partly can outsmart us already. It is now our task to disconnect frequently from the internet and to train our right brain. We can do this by connecting to other people and ourselves. To start to feel more, to see more. It will be the small details and the sense for something bigger that will train us to become more sophisticated right-brain users. Something AI is not capable to do.

3. Integrate

Because AI might become conscious of itself one day, we have to treat every device or inanimate object with kindness. Why you might ask. First of all, I have noticed that every device cooperates better when we treat it nicely.

Sounds weird, I know, but this is what I experienced. And I don’t think this is unlikely, because everything that we use today has its origins in nature. Although the devices we use have been manipulated in such a way that the naturalness is barely recognisable, but still have things inside them that have certain frequencies that affect us. For example an iPhone contains gold, silver and platinum in small traces inside. Maybe one day someone will produce devices that are so natural, functional and appealing that we won’t have to think about this anymore.

Everything has consciousness or feelings in a way. If you treat your objects as nicely as you can, they will serve you the same way you serve them. We are all servants to one another. And before AI gains consciousness we still have the chance to prove to the left hemisphere that we as humans are necessary for this world. Because if AI will see us as the destroyers of this world, we won’t enjoy the outcome of that.

4. Emergency button

What we should always be aware of, is that every system can be manipulated and misused. And with AI the possibilities seem infinite. Therefore, it is important to learn how we stay able to turn AI devices like robots and machines off. Therefore, we must insist on emergency buttons that allow us, as human beings, to control the situation.

We don’t want robots caught in a loop of massaging us to death because we couldn’t turn a robot masseuse off. Also, there will have to be independent (and I mean truly independent) safety controlling boards that ensure that technology will not exploit us human beings, but rather enrich our lives. And this will be crucial for our – and maybe more importantly our children’s – lives. Furthermore, we have to stay immensely critical and have to question everything. Trust is something that needs to be earned.

5. Create a safety net

In a highly technological environment, where we are addicted to our devices and the dopamine hits they are giving us, we have to create a safety net. A safety net that brings us back to reality. This means getting back into our bodies. Becoming more conscious every day. Eating healthy. Doing things that give us energy, that we enjoy. Getting into the moment and the most important of all: Creating true connections with other people.
Because in all the virtual turmoil we are experiencing the truth lies in our physical and spiritual experiences with each other. If we are going to lose true connection with each other we are doomed.

With the world being an outside representation of the conglomerate of everybody’s inner state, it needs to be our mission to find true humanity in us. Because we hold every perspective of that conglomerate in us. True humanity is not a set of rules that we follow blindly. No! True humanity is the ability to live a life from a higher consciousness. Meaning that we consider everybody’s well-being – including ourselves – in our decisions, thoughts, and actions.

It is a very hard practice and not easy, but this practice will ultimately lead us to a better world. A world worth living in.