The use of AI as a tool has me thinking about Newton’s law, ‘every action has an equal and opposite reaction’. I believe this profound truth applies not just in the domain of physics, but to all of life.
A variation on that truth: every tool we use makes us weaker in some opposite way.
Modern engines perform way more reliably than old ones, but when a problem does occur, diagnosing it requires a computer. Using mapping software atrophies spatial awareness. We communicate with loved ones halfway across the world, but we don’t know the people across the street.
Sometimes the weakness can be disguised as positive. Wearing shoes enables us to do things we couldn’t do without them, and also keeps our feet soft and free from callouses. But reliance creates dependence. In an emergency where a person urgently needs to walk barefoot, that dependence can be life-threatening.
The history of disruptive technologies shows a pattern: weaknesses can’t be perceived at first. During our lifetimes we’ve seen the impact of mobile and internet. Only recently have we started becoming aware of their opposite reactions: distraction, uncertainty, isolation.
So when people ask these days, how are you using AI? I answer, with careful limitations. I’ve played around, and I’m certainly paying attention to developments. But I’m not in a hurry to become dependent before the weaknesses are known.
There’s a gold rush vibe right now that threatens us under time pressure: don’t get left behind! But any time someone puts time pressure on you, you should immediately question why – who benefits? Remember during the gold rush, the people who got really rich didn’t go into the hills, they sold shovels and blankets in town.
To go fast, go slow. Rushing creates mistakes which take more time to fix than avoiding them.
Equal and opposite reactions.