We're right in the middle of a time where it's become ‘normal’ to open your website browser and have artificial intelligence push the first response to your question, eliminating the need for consulting your own research.

It’s become ‘normal’ to ask ChatGPT for information regarding your physical or mental health, business advice, or even life advice despite it having zero qualifications or any licensing.

It’s become ‘normal’ to offload tasks away from your precious brainpower onto a robot or machine — which in some instances, owes its brilliance in saving you time, money, and energy.

On the other hand, all of the above gradually makes us devoid of extremely important factors that life itself is built upon.

Connection.

Authenticity.

Creativity.

Trust.

Humanity.

We, as a human collective, are on the brink of losing value and lacking depth; slowly but surely, we're starving ourselves of human authenticity.

What Does It Mean for the Workplace, & the Future?

As writer Joanna Maciejewska first said:

“I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes”.

Is it deplorable that the rise of AI has both foreshadowed and shafted the likes of writers, photographers, graphic designers, poets...? Not to mention the ongoing list of creatives, careers, and livelihoods that are threatened by this new gratification for ‘instant work’?

Is it deplorable that the rise of artificial intelligence poses an inconceivable threat to the environment, climate change, and the overall extinction of humanity, moreso than any other risks we've faced in centuries?

I wish I was exaggerating.

Even the heads of OpenAI, Google Deepmind, and Anthropic themselves admitted the threat of AI is as great as pandemics and nuclear war.

If we're starving for humanity and connection because everywhere we turn there's robotic regurgitation disguised as a human, then there's starting to be a problem. It's not some crazy concept of wanting human normalcy either... it's actually a deep-rooted, core requirement.

Psychology-backed Data: Humans NEED Connection

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs was established by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper, summarising the basic, fundamental human needs that constitute the bare minimum of human happiness and contentment.

His work consisted of five pillars, whereby the first is Physiological, detailing the essentials to biological life (food, water, oxygen, sleep, etc). The second pillar is defined as Safety needs, for example shelter, health, security from danger, financial stability, etc.

The third, fundamental pillar to human needs?

LOVE, BELONGINGNESS, & CONNECTION.

That comes from a deeply wired, ingrained, necessity that humans need one-another for simple, emotional stability. It's the need of a baby to look directly into its mother's eyes. It's why skin on skin is encouraged with parents after birth. Why touch is so important in both platonic, or romantic relationships. Talking to others, inclusion, emotional stability. It's why depression absolutely skyrockets when loneliness swells, or mental darkness clouds when your loved ones pass or your support systems collapse.

The people speaking out about this type of topic (absolutely me included) are not typical whingers who are 'behind the times and need to catch up'.

Rather, we are crying out to get away from the rollercoaster ride that strips us slowly, rawly, of connectivity and humaneness.

So to return the conversation — why are we wanting to, and more importantly, seem happy to, eliminate human essences from tasks or conversations that we are still wildly capable of?

Why are we comfortable with draining our efforts or creativity?

Why are we rupturing trust among our own kind, and wondering whether a human or a robot created what it is we are consuming?

Why is quick, instant culture benefitting with audiences over long-lasting, durable quality??? Is it REALLY worth the time you're "saving"??

Deviating from Diligence

Handmade used to be highly sought after. Handwritten once was the epitome of thoughtfulness. Handcrafted equalled effort and meaningful time spent.

Our raw craft and creativity are slowly being squeezed and suppressed. Not to mention, your natural skills that pursue vast improvement along with gratitude, learning, and fulfilment with time.

Much like a muscle, if human skills are not exercised, then the ability dwindles and weakens. But it's not just artists who are threatened, it's the consumers that are starved too.

Widespread audiences spend time consuming and absorbing AI-generated content, which trickles in with or without realising; social media posts, blog posts, business copy, even some news articles and other consumable media outlets utilise AI in their work.

While I can see the argument that it's often used as an asset or a tool, equipped to assist humans in saving time, money, or energy... it's a difficult conversation, and for some it's easy to stick heads in the sand and not address any of the negative problems (don't get me started on the environment) associated.

How far do we go in finding a balance, or drawing a line? Can we make more steps to distinguishing between AI 'assisting', and 'abusing'?

If you can shove the vague details of personal or business work into AI and have it generate a two, three, four page spread. If you can concoct personal letters, to full on business proposals. Even real proposals or wedding vows by now. It’s scarily possible to generate whole eBooks or books.

But truly... where’s the emotion or thought in that? Especially in business, I rightly agree with the opinion that if you couldn't be bothered to write it, then I can't be bothered to read it, let alone buy into it.

Maybe the decades-long debate is just as poignant now as the fantasy question after the 1994 release of popular sci-fi film, I, Robot: Who would win in a survival of the fittest, Humans or Robots? Although back then it felt the same as asking imaginatively in the schoolyard, Godzilla orKing Kong?

It doesn’t seem far-fetched now to believe the sheer capability of machines could be dominant, as our natural skills and communication dwindle like a dying fire starved of oxygen.

The way AI is turbocharging, are we firmly in the throes of baby-stepping toward robotic armageddon and disillusionment from lack of real humanness?

If you liked this article, I created another deep perspective piece about why you should keep going, despite the noise, despite the rise of AI, despite what's going on in the world.

You can find that here, with all my support.

Keep carving your pathway, it's important.

-fe