Our brains work on 3 levels.
At the most basic is the ‘reptilian brain.’ This is the ancient wiring that is common with every other animal. It monitors and manages the automatic things that must happen for life. Our instincts, temperature control, heart rate, respiration reproductive drives, everything necessary for the survival of the animal.
The limbic system. This manages our emotional lives, fear, arousal, memories, it is where we store our beliefs. It in effect provides the framework through which we look to make sense of the world.
The Neo cortex, the newest part of our brain that differentiates us from other animals. It is where we make choices, it controls our language, imagination, and self-awareness.
This three-part picture is a metaphor. The parts of the brain do not act independently, but in an entirely integrated manner, each having an impact on the others, and receiving input from the others.
Consider the parts of this complex interconnected and interdependent neuro system that is replaceable by AI. There is not all that many of them, beyond the extrapolation of language and imagery from what is in the past.
Despite the hype, we have a long way to go before artificial sentience will be achieved, if it is possible. (Expert opinion varies from ‘Within the decade’ to ‘Never’).
However, who cares?
The productivity gains from AI are present in some form in every current job, and the numbers of new jobs that will emerge are huge. Nobody had conceived of the job of ‘prompt engineer’ 3 years ago!
These new jobs in combination with the renewal of those currently available, will deliver satisfaction, and a standard of living out kids will thank us for.
Sadly, there is always a flip side. In this case it is the dark downsides we all see emerging from social media, which will also be on steroids, and the social dislocation that will occur to those on the sharp end of the changes in jobs.
How we manage that balance will be the challenge of the 2030’s.
Image by Canva.com
