Our very humanity is under assault.
And we’re doing it to ourselves.
At a time when we have more ways to communicate and connect, we are actually divided, distrustful and disengaged from each other.
Advancements in machine learning and Artificial intelligence (AI) are enabling machines to do many of the things we thought only humans could do–write, plan, converse.
Don’t get me wrong I am not a Luddite. I embrace new technologies and see the value in ChatGPT and other tools.
But we must not forget that our ability to express ourselves and forge relationships is our unique, human superpower.
We are outsourcing our relationships to algorithms and bots that decide what we see and when, who we should connect with and how we should frame our conversations. And increasingly these platforms make it hard for us to discern real from fake.
It is time for us to go back to basics–to find ways to engage personally; to have conversations in real time where we can see how others are responding and enable us to take in what we are saying and visa-versa.
These interactions can be exhilarating as well as unpredictable and messy. And that is the point. It is that messiness and imperfection that makes us human.
Let’s use our human powers to reclaim conversation and deepen our relationships.
What do you think are the qualities that lead to meaningful conversation and connection? What do you think separates us humans from the machines?
