I Think, Therefore I Am!

In February 2011, history was made when IBM Watson beat all-time champions Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings in the popular American TV game show Jeopardy!. Watson’s ability to uncover insights in unstructured data was a big leap for natural language processing, a subset of artificial intelligence, which would pave the way for Generative AI models like ChatGPT. Generative AI (GenAI) is an artificial intelligence model that can create original content such as text, images, videos, and even software code based on user’s prompts and requests. Ever since ChatGPT’s introduction in 2022, Generative AI has been the buzzword in the business world. As per a McKinsey survey, one-third of organizations have already adopted GenAI in atleast one business function. As per projections from industry analyst Gartner, 80% of organizations will be using GenAI applications or APIs by 2026. GenAI applications are expected to add up to $4.4 trillion to the global economy annually.

 

While the picture may be rosy for the economy, Yuval Noah Harari in his insightful article in The Economist, warns us of the potential dangers that lay ahead for human civilization as we know it. The incorporation of GenAI into the ever-growing arsenal of Artificial Intelligence has enabled it to comprehend and influence human emotions. The article goes on to elaborate on how AI could well be on its way to becoming an all-knowing omnipotent sentient being but let us take a detour and discuss the underlying concerns raised by Harari.

 

Just as over-dependence on machines has eroded craftsmanship and manual skills, over- reliance on Generative AI could lead to a diminishing of individuals’ critical thinking and analytical skills. While the jury is still out on whether the increasing cognitive abilities of Artificial Intelligence are a boon or a bane, there is no doubt that decreasing cognitive ability could pose an existential threat to humankind.

 

Picture a generation that grows up searching for quick answers in ChatGPT, whether it be school assignments, college projects, or daily tasks. It would fail to exercise its “little grey cells” as Hercule Poirot would put it. This might lead to a generation that could easily be manipulated not just by Artificial Intelligence but by “artificial” people as well.

 

By accepting AI-generated content as true without validating its authenticity, we risk losing the ability to think independently and critically. Whether it be Meta’s Galactica fiasco, CNBC’s ‘Ballad of Dwight Fry’ experiment, or Gemini’s ‘Founding Fathers’ controversy, there are countless examples that warn us to take the output of GenAI with a pinch of salt. While we cannot afford to shun GenAI or its fruits, we should be aware of its faults like hallucinations, inherent bias, and opaqueness of the decision-making process. While at a technological level, we need to work on addressing these issues, we should also see this as a wake-up call for us to sharpen our critical thinking abilities.

 

To make full use of GenAI without falling into its trappings, there is a need to reshape our entire educational system with an emphasis on critical thinking from an early age. Already countries like Finland, Sweden, and the Netherlands have made great strides in this direction and their efforts are worthy of emulation.

 

Children and adults alike should be encouraged to question the validity and accuracy of any information that we consume. We should not just absorb information but also scrutinize it and seek evidence to support or refute it. This would not only come in handy in the Doomsday scenario prophesied by Yuval Noah Harari but also help solve most of the problems of the Digital Age that are an outcome of misinformation.

 

There is only one solution to the challenge posed by Artificial Intelligence and it was written on a blackboard on a rainy day in Ohio some hundred years ago by a visionary leader who was frustrated with his colleagues and wanted to capture their interest and emphasize the importance of mental engagement. The mantra was “THINK” and the man was none other than Thomas J Watson Sr., IBM’s first CEO and the one after whom IBM Watson was named. The thinking self is the undeniable foundation of knowledge and central to our understanding of who we are. As long as we think for ourselves, we can tame artificial intelligence into augmented intelligence that will propel humankind to new heights.