I was a late adopter of many tech trends (eg crypto and AI,) not out of skepticism, but just fear of losing enjoyment.
Designing logos from scratch, sketching with a pencil, writing down ideas on paper. Developing something manually gave me satisfaction, and AI-generated content felt like it lacked that same depth.
The most interesting advantage that AI offered initially was speed. I could generate ideas in seconds with AI, and use that as a foundation for my work. I could also create a draft by myself, and obtain a refined version from AI in seconds.
What once took me hours could now be completed in minutes. The collaboration is a thrill, but: Am I still authentic as a creative if I let AI do the work? If I keep generating ideas with AI, am I going to lose the ability to generate ideas from scratch by myself?
This is now a deeper reflection on the impact of AI, not just on creative fields, but on our natural skills and abilities as humans. And it made me think:
Are we in danger of losing something essential by relying too much on AI?
The Calculator Analogy (When Tools Replace Skills): When I ran this idea by ChatGPT (OL), it compared AI to the calculator, a tool that makes a task more efficient without necessarily diminishing the person using it.
But calculators have a dark side too.
Research into cognitive offloading shows that when we outsource mental tasks, like calculations to computers, our brains become less proficient at performing them on our own.
In other words, when we over-rely on a calculator, our mathematical skills can atrophy.
Similarly, GPS has replaced our mental maps. Although some people are better at memorizing and recalling directions than others, humans on average no longer practice visualizing or remembering routes because our phones do it for us. How many people even look up from their phones while being driven around in a new city?
This is a small but clear example of how technology, while convenient, can slowly erode our ability to solve problems and engage in critical thinking.
Humans are wired to take the path of least resistance.
We tend to over-rely on things that make life easier. For example, we can now type faster with little regard for grammatical errors because we trust autocorrect and grammar checkers to handle the rest for us. While these tools are beneficial, our dependence on them can weaken our basic writing skills over time.
The Dangers of Skipping Foundational Skill Development
Is it essential for a person develop foundational skills such as judgment, coordination, and an understanding of consequences, before getting access to powerful tools?
Do we risk creating a generation that can operate tools but lacks the deeper understanding and skills needed to use them wisely, due to over-reliance on artificial intelligence?
The Balanced Approach
When used strategically, AI can unlock new levels of productivity, creativity, and innovation.
- AI can help creatives with ideation, rapid prototyping, or streamlining repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on the deeper, more nuanced parts of their craft.
- AI can assist technical people with data analysis and pattern recognition, but it is crucial that humans retain the ability to interpret, question, and make decisions based on that data.
- AI tools can personalize learning experiences for educators, but students still need to practice the core skills of critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.
Phased Skill-Building (“AI Age Limits”)
Just like how we encourage children to learn how to walk before we give them a bike, should people be allowed to develop their own ideas and experience the creative process without shortcuts, before relying on AI tools for creative work?
The future is exciting.
George