Are we experiencing the end of the dominance of the human species? The proliferation of artificial intelligence and its applications such as ChatGTP poses many existential questions to humanity. Howard Gardner, also known as the “Father of Multiple Intelligences”, the scientist who redefined the concept of intelligence and introduced the nine unified types of intelligence, is joining the effort to decipher the new reality.

In a conversation with K, a professor of developmental psychology at Harvard University delves into the world of artificial intelligence and the complexity of systems for automatic development and speech production. Having formulated the theory of “multiple intelligences” and various forms of human intelligence that develop or remain stagnant based on biological predisposing factors and external environmental stimuli, Professor Gardner assesses the “limits” of human creativity and the impending “competition” of people – machines.

– For hundreds of thousands of years, various groups of people (homo sapiens) have been the dominant living force on the planet, but this hegemony – this dominance – is now threatened by three forces: a) climate change, which can make the planet uninhabitable for humans (hence the desire of some rich people to live on Mars), b) nuclear weapons, which can lead to nuclear war and the destruction of human life, c) technological innovations, i.e. from computer systems, artifacts, as well as from manipulations with the human genome, which can neutralize a person (homo sapiens) and lead to the creation of new species.

We don’t know the answer to this question. Much fiction, especially science fiction, depicts humans at war with other animals, exposed to extreme weather changes, facing creatures from another planet, other solar systems, or galaxies. Until now, people have defeated such powerful forces, at least as far as we know. But it is quite possible that new species or new technologies will be able to neutralize homo sapiens, and these forces may or may not fix what they have done, what they have exterminated. As far as we know, species such as homo sapiens may have once lived on our planet or on another planet, but were wiped out by the forces of animals, weather, or technology. This is an unsolved mystery.

Decide whether to cooperate with intelligent machines or exclude them from certain activities.

– The theory of “multiple intelligences” was developed forty years ago. It was an attempt to synthesize all the available knowledge about the human mind, human intelligence. An attempt to synthesize data from many sources and disciplines has led to the conclusion that it makes no sense to believe that there is only one form of intelligence that can be adequately tested with an IQ test. Rather, human intelligence is best described as a set of autonomous or semi-autonomous computing systems. Standard intelligence tests (IQ) use linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligence, which is not the same thing if you compare a mathematician with a poet. A person has at least 5-6 other forms of intelligence: for example, musical-rhythmic, spatial, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal and natural intelligence. Finding that a person is effective in one of these forms of intelligence means neither strength nor weakness in other forms of intelligence.

“First of all, AI is quite capable of creating new forms of intelligence—as well as new forms of stupidity! We don’t know, and we might not recognize them even if they worked. Consider that for most of human history, we did not realize that whales and dolphins have unusual communication and memory systems, and we never thought that trees and plants could exchange information. But now many knowledgeable scientists are taking these claims seriously.

“I am sure that artificial intelligence will surpass humans in some ways – and indeed has already surpassed it – be it communication efficiency, or detecting small changes in presentation, or even making decisions in medical cases, or in legal disputes. . As human beings, we must decide whether to simply accept our lower abilities, if you will, our lower form or range of intelligence, whether to improve our own abilities, cooperate with artificial intelligence, or announce certain decisions (for example, moral or ethical). dilemmas) unsuitable for AI systems that only humans should receive.

– Here we have two different questions: it is too early to say whether artificial intelligence will limit or enhance human creativity. It can motivate her or undermine her. If artificial intelligence creates beautiful new music, then it can either scare away would-be composers or encourage them to compete with and possibly outperform artificial intelligence. The fact that AI can play perfect music doesn’t stop me from playing the piano every day. I’m not competing with technology – I’m competing with myself.

Do it like watchmakers

Diomedes Spinellis

At the beginning of the 16th century, the average price of a simple watch was equal to the monthly salary of a worker. The watch was assembled by craftsmen who made each piece separately. Over the course of a century, the industrial revolution and the division of labor reduced their real value by 87%. Today, digital watches made from components produced automatically in Chinese factories cost less than 10 euros. But there are parallel clocks worth thousands of euros that are still handcrafted by specialist watchmakers in Switzerland. What can this development tell us about the changes brought about by the rapid pace of AI applications such as the ChatGPT system in knowledge work?

Many of us thought that professions based on knowledge and creativity, such as doctors, lawyers, philologists, engineers, mathematicians, chemists, artists, composers, graphic designers, journalists, programmers, would be left behind, teachers. But the revolutionary development of artificial intelligence disproved us. Typical examples are the recent success of the GPT-4 model in US professional examinations for doctors (80%) and lawyers (70%). So, just as the efficiency of watchmaking has skyrocketed from the 1700s to the present day, the same is likely to happen to many of the tasks included in today’s knowledge economy. This will happen because many of them will be able to be carried out with the help or completely with the help of artificial intelligence applications. Efficiency gains will affect the labor market, leading to a reduction in the supply of relevant positions and lower wages. These changes are not unprecedented. We have seen this in many manual jobs, from fields to construction, where machines have replaced muscle strength. In the last century, we have had a corresponding phenomenon in many office positions due to the development of information technology.

But just as there are still watchmakers and expensive watches today, there are likely to be highly paid but highly specialized and differentiated jobs. In short, the tasks of cognition and creativity will be divided into many that will cover AI applications widely, and those few that will continue to be performed primarily by humans. But all of them will increasingly be helped by computers: more low-skilled jobs, fewer those that require more experience and skills. Where will people stay strong?

First, to cover real needs that artificial intelligence applications cannot satisfactorily answer. I mention working on complex and large systems that have not been trained on their algorithms, working at high risk, solving problems that require a deep understanding of their components, meaningfully communicating with people, manipulating the natural world, and, of course, research and innovation. For example, surgery is less affected by artificial intelligence than diagnostic radiology, which is already shunned by new US residents.

Secondly, in the satisfaction of emotional needs: in tasks that require a multi-layered human presence, real empathy, authenticity and sincerity. Typical examples here are music performers, senior executives, actors, psychologists, priests, politicians, teachers and kindergarten teachers.

Third, in professions where pressure from guilds and labor unions will create artificial barriers to the adoption of AI applications. This is a quite possible development of events, due to the fact that the affected professional groups have proven their strong political base, which often in our country exploits them in their own interests and to the detriment of society as a whole.

Coping with the big changes artificial intelligence is bringing to the labor market requires policies that protect not jobs but workers through retraining and educational adjustments. At the same time, policies that remove barriers to the adoption of this revolutionary technology can boost economic growth by offering innovative or internationally competitive products and services.

Mr. Diomedis Spinellis is Professor in the Department of Management Science and Technology at the Athens University of Economics and Business and in the Department of Software Technology at the Delft University of Technology.