Key to Human Survival in AI Age

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In a workshop held for service industry professionals, Dr Aruna Dayanatha revealed a compelling observation which does not perhaps tally with the general observation today: IT specialists contribute only 20 percent to the industry, and the rest is up to the non-IT professionals. That said, we can come to an assumption that this 80 percent cluster comprises experts in other branches of science and maths in addition to commerce and the humanities discipline.

It was not so long ago that this world of ours had to grapple with the fear of losing human jobs with the rapid progress of Artificial Intelligence(AI). Enter Chat GPT in November 2022, and that collective concern reached a heightened point. We humans were under the impression that we’ve reached the boiling point of technology. But the Open AI’s entry only made that impression a false one. It changed, altered and modified the way the humanity thinks and acts – and confirmed the fear of losing human existence. It could have been a traumatic period for many professionals, if we dare to be honest.

And now we are almost two years of celebrating the entry of Chat GPT and a host of other open AIs. We are now coming to terms with the whole story of AI. The devil is not that black is it was painted. The humanity’s future is not at stake to the extent that we feared.

Cliched fear

That fear is gradually becoming a cliché with the likes of Elon Musk coming forward with prescriptions to survive the AI. This intelligence won’t replace the humans, Musk confirms. It will make human intelligence an option – a retainable option in the industry (thank you, Dr Dayanatha for quoting Musk). Now that statement feels heavy on that splenetic debate of AI Vs human co-existence. For those who pity humanity becoming a mere option, heave a sigh:we are not just becoming an option, but a retainable one at that!

How can humans stay in the industry at least as a retainable option? It is the very humanness of the humans that make him unique against the AI existence. Artificial Intelligence has been trained to mimic the human intelligence. It is very much akin to employing a well-educated subordinate to assist with your general tasks. It is a rule-abider and makes things easier. But the catch is that we need to give it orders – prompts in the Chat GPT parlance. Give it the wrong prompt, you get a wrong response. Give it an ambiguous prompt, you are likely to receive a similar response.

So the prompt matters. It needs to have clarity. It needs to have a context. It needs to be specific. And you need to be iterative as the Chat GPT may not offer the required response on the first attempt. All these make an inroad to what the humanity has been dealing with ever since the inception of its civilisation: creativity.

Back to Musk’s statement: humans will stay a retainable option in the AI-driven industry. And the question: how can humans ensure they remain retainable? The answer lies in cultivating creativity. Creativity is very much a human element. Creativity, empathy and narrative collectively drive innovation and connection.

Creative writing has become more relevant than it ever had been. AI is an excellent subordinate that helps us automates the routine and mundane tasks and saves us the humans the energy to divine the time on crafting narratives. If we have the right creative juice trickle down our souls, we have AI at our beck and call.

This writer sat down for an interview with Shyam Selvdurai a few years ago. Selvadurai fits in at this point because of two reasons. Being an established novelist aside, Selvadurai has published an anthology of creative writing aimed at reconciliation among divided ethnic groups. Plus, he teaches creative writing at university. His job is to convince the world that ethnic harmony is possible via creative writing and the art can be taught.

The anthology titled Write to Reconcile brings together participants from diverse backgrounds—Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim—to craft stories that transcend boundaries. Through these narratives, readers gain insights into lives they might never otherwise know, such as the violated Tamil girl seen through the eyes of a Sinhalese writer or the humanity of an LTTE soldier as imagined by a Muslim participant.

Selvadurai believes that the craft of writing can be taught, but that talent to evoke emotion and provoke thought is inborn. What creative writing courses does is to guide the students to refine this inbuilt skill to a practical extent. At one time, such inherent skills proved very much practical for novelists, short story writers, dramatists, poets, and so on. Later it was resourceful for journalists and copywriters in the advertising industry. And now this skill serves as a bridge between the technological and the human.

Creative writers

AI and automation are gradually establishing the presence. So grows the need to humanise technology alongside. Creative writers are required to craft narratives that make complex technologies accessible and relatable.

Science fiction is a case in point that often explores the ethical implications of AI. This offers readers a way to engage with these issues on a personal level. Stories such as Isaac Asimov’s “I, Robot” or contemporary works like Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Klara and the Sun” provide insights into the human-AI relationship.

And we have another winning factor in the AI-Human battle (if there is one). Empathy is a subtle trump card to survive the battleground. Machines can never relate to empathy. Why? The humanity or human existence relies in a bubble, limited in time and space. It is empathy that makes extraordinary things happen in that limited time and space.

Creative writing moulds empathy and allows readers to step into the shoes of others, experiencing different perspectives and emotions. This is particularly important in a globalised world where storytelling can bridge cultural and emotional divides.

Empathy does not exist in isolation. Critical thinking and imagination sit on its either side. This is one of the most essential soft skills sought after in the digital age.

Whether digital or traditional, the readership will never cease to question assumptions, explore alternative viewpoints and new possibilities. It preserves cultural heritage. The stories enable the scribes document traditions, beliefs, and histories that might otherwise be lost. These data keep AI alive and meaningful.

Many technological innovations, from the internet back in the 2000s to virtual reality today, were first referred to in works of science fiction. Those authors paved the way for real-world breakthroughs. As technology continues to evolve, the need for creative storytellers will only grow.

The rise of digital storytelling platforms like Wattpad and Medium has democratised publishing. These platforms provide opportunities for writers to experiment with interactive and multimedia storytelling, blending text, images, and video to create immersive experiences.

Platforms such as Google Docs facilitate real-time collaboration among writers. AI algorithms deserve the humanity’s appreciation for assisting with brainstorming and editing. This opens up new possibilities for co-creation and innovation.

Interactive narratives

Transmedia storytelling involves telling a story across multiple platforms and formats, such as books, films, games, and social media. This approach inspires richer and more interactive narratives. Virtual and augmented reality technologies are another platform that offers new avenues for creative writing.

Writers can craft immersive, interactive worlds that readers can explore in VR or AR. This enhances the storytelling experience for connections with the audience in a more emotional (or perhaps even more empathetic) plane.

With AI come to stay with us, Doris Day’s song wouldn’t have been more apt now:

Qué será, será
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Qué será, será
What will be, will be

AI will, one day, dominate the human’s unique creativity and empathy too – some may counterargue. But such a phenomenon is nowhere in sight. And not in our times, we can conveniently guess.

Until then, it’s up to us the humans to ‘navigate’ the ‘realms’ (to borrow the very words usually generated by the Chat GPT) in creativity and empathy to the best our abilities.

Let us not cease our exploration of new storytelling media and collaborate with AI until we land in a not-so-certain future where human roles will be displaced.

AI in the workplace: The rise of soft skills

Key takeaway:

Don’t fear AI taking over – creativity, empathy, and critical thinking are becoming even more essential for humans to thrive in the AI age.

* The 80/20 rule: Contrary to popular belief, IT specialists make up only 20% of the service industry workforce. The remaining 80% comprises professionals in other fields, suggesting a broader range of expertise is needed.
* AI as a tool, not a threat: The fear of AI replacing humans is fading. AI excels at automating routine tasks, freeing humans to focus on what AI can’t replicate: creativity.

* The power of storytelling: Creative writing fosters empathy by allowing readers to see the world from different perspectives. This is crucial in a globalised world and for building bridges between technology and humanity.
* The future of storytelling: New platforms like Wattpad and VR/AR offer exciting opportunities for writers to craft interactive and immersive narratives. AI can even assist with brainstorming and editing.

Developing soft skills:

* Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others.
* Critical Thinking: The ability to analyze information objectively and form sound judgments.
* Creativity: The ability to generate new ideas and solve problems in innovative ways.
These skills solidify the humans’ position as a retainable option in the AI-driven workplace.