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T
he recent doomsday prediction of AI (Artificial Intelligence) taking over the world and rendering the entire workforce jobless, amused me. Why are we so much worried about Artificial Intelligence, when in our daily lives, we survive only on everything artificial and there is nothing natural left in us?
We begin the day with artificial fake emojis in response to innumerable “Good Morning” WhatsApp messages, forwards without even opening the majority of them. While in the office, greeting the boss and colleagues with an artificial smile and fake handshakes. Attending the office meetings with a feigned attentive look on the face, even though much of the proceedings don’t interest you.
From the artificial smile, artificial love, artificial greetings, artificial hugs, we have embraced artificialness so much in our lives that our whole body has turned unnatural. From artificial limbs, artificial heart, artificial kidney, artificial hair, artificial teeth, artificial hearing aids, artificial spectacles every part of our body is artificial. Even in our eating habits we add artificial flavours, artificial sweeteners, and for external looks we use artificial colours and artificial perfumes. We even create artificial lakes, islands, forests and clouds.
Recently, my wife and I were invited to attend a close friend’s 50th marriage anniversary in Delhi. We took a flight from Bangalore to Delhi. The girl behind the Airline counter greeted us with an artificial smile and a “Good Morning” while issuing the Boarding Passes. As we entered the aircraft, the airhostess at the entrance greeted us with the same artificial smile and a “Welcome aboard” greeting. Similarly, a “thank you for flying with us” parting statement while deboarding the plane. The action appeared well orchestrated than with any genuine empathy.
At the function, the smiles on the faces of the hosts, the hugs, the greetings, best wishes and congratulatory messages from the guests all looked very artificial to us.
Amidst this rehearsed gathering and hypocritical behaviour, we saw a child laughing merrily without reason, without pretension and running around freely. That smile carried no practiced performance, no hidden intention. It was spontaneous and pure. This lively sight reminded me that naturalness still exists and everything is not taken over by artificiality.
Why do we dread Artificial Intelligence? Our worry stems from the fact that AI mimics our own artificial behaviors with alarming accuracy. It processes information, generates responses, and simulates empathy, like we often do in our daily interactions. Our worry is not that Artificial Intelligence is becoming more human, but that we have become increasingly less human.
However, the good news is that AI can’t replace jobs which involve emotional intelligence, empathy, care, compassion, physical presence, creativity and originality. It can’t replace a parent, a spouse, a nanny, a health care provider, a leader or a friend who care for you.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.