The world has evolved, is evolving and will keep evolving. What we have today isn't the same as what used to be in times past. We're all grateful for the developments over time. I consider that as humans, we're appreciative of that. We see, use, and benefit from several developments we have today that were not available before. These developments have brought ease, and possibilities to many previously difficult or impossible tasks.
Who wouldn't want ease? I bet we all do. This is the core reason for having machines and one reason for employing or adapting to technological resources for our good, personally/individually or corporately as a group, organisation or body. But well, ease does come with a cost, and certainly one that we're seeing today if we care to look. On the matter of AI, what's the cost of this ease? What's the effect on our creativity and abilities?
It's a huge issue, and a serious one. As mentioned, if you care to look, you'll see how much the cost of this ease comes at, which might not be realised yet. Things that could be tagged impossible to do or able to be done by a few skilled individuals are now an easy possibility. Even for the things that we could do with time and some dedicated effort, AI has made it easy, such that learning and using one's brain remains a serious concern.
However, AI isn't the problem. Human dependence/overdependence on AI is the issue, and the cost to our creativity. I always say that AI is meant to be a tool, not a substitution for our abilities, thinking and creativity. Perhaps, this is why even to get the best from AI, you need to be good at prompting it. Our brains shouldn't be substituted with AI. It shouldn't be replaced by AI, but there should be a healthy and balanced coexistence.
Sadly, many humans are moving to overdependence on AI. Every decision, choice, and creative thought has to go through AI as the foundation and base for all of that. That's where the ease comes at a great cost. At that point, we become more like robots, systematically programmed by our dependence on AI, to obey the command of running to it always without thoughts, considerations and creativity of our own.
This isn't a call to reject AI. That would be a concern as well. The world as it is now accepts, accommodates and infuses AI in its running. Rejecting it would be remaining behind and not moving with time, thereby costing one opportunities and possibilities in today's world. I have my reservations about certain uses of AI but I can't fail to accept the fact that it's becoming a necessity in our world today, even more so in the future.
I go back again to reaffirm that the cost of ease predicated on the use of AI, which diminishes our creativity as humans is a result of human dependence/over dependence on AI. It's becoming a substitute, not a tool to help and to improve our creative thinking. The answer then is balance. And not just with AI, but with anything that tends to bring ease. We must be mindful of the side effects of that ease; the cost that could come with it when unchecked.
Image is AI generated.
