AI: A Revolution of Time

By Michael O’Brien

 

Evolution is inescapable. Not just among plants and animals, but also within the technological standards in which humans generate. Throughout history, we’ve created new technologies for the purpose of uncovering solutions to existing problems. Cutting edge technological advances have saved unquantifiable amounts of time and energy, providing the human race with more time to spend in any way we may desire. Often, this was a combination for learning, solving new problems, and increased leisure time.

 

Over the last decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded onto the scene, and revealed itself to be unlike any other technology that has come before it. These advancements are occurring so rapidly, they can be difficult to document in a static article, as they may be considered “old news” by the time the story is published. These systems have gone from, only a basic understanding, to complex problem solving, computer coding capabilities, and speech recognition, in an extraordinarily short period of time. We are in an age where AI Systems are now capable of surpassing human performance at an alarming rate.

 

Earlier this year, we’ve seen the release of ChatGPT Operator, which can be prompted (or instructed) to complete tasks on our behalf, such as: scheduling dinner reservations, ordering groceries, and even messaging sellers on Facebook Marketplace. Additionally, DeepSeek, a large language model (LLM) similar to ChatGPT, provides a unique feature that allows it to perform these tasks using significantly less computing power. This naturally makes the benefits of this particular platform more cost effective than its counterparts, leading to increased accessibility for a wider range of users. 

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Within the rapidly evolving world of Automated Intelligence, these bots are capable of sourcing any information you may require, at lightning speeds. Within a couple of years, these tools have evolved from writing articles and solving complex math problems, to developing business plans, creating social media posts, and building personalized diet and exercise programs, to include specific meal plans right down to your recommended caloric intake.

 

What does this all mean?​

In essence, we are taking the first step toward a new existence. One where AI and automation is integrated into every aspect of our lives, similar to our phones, but even more indoctrinated.

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Today, most people can use AI in its current form to save anywhere from a couple minutes, to numerous hours per week, both personally and professionally. Those minutes and hours add up to days, weeks, and even months throughout the year. All of this extra time should allow us the opportunity to focus more on our life’s purpose, and less on jobs, deadlines, and monotonous tasks that seem to drain our energy from one day to the next.

 

What exactly are we going to do with all of this newly found time-freedom, you ask?​

AI is a tool, like a printing press or a car. This particular tool can provide the luxury of newly acquired “time” for all of us. Will this time-freedom lead to humans gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves, and life itself? That is certainly the dream, and a reason for excitement surrounding the potentiality of future Artificial Intelligence.

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The real question remains: 

 

Will we pursue this deeper understanding at scale, or will we frivolously squander all that we have gained? 

In a society that craves convenience, consumption, and entertainment, there’s only a small percentage of the population seeking larger solutions. If you're a skeptic, you may believe that our newly acquired time would likely be lost watching television, or wasted scrolling through meaningless social media posts.

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Most concerning is the possibility that AI will do all of our thinking for us. We have never experienced a technology that has had the potential to be more intelligent than the human race as a whole. Right now, millions of professionals are using this automated intelligence to refine strategies, and brainstorm new ideas. Some are even using AI to reply to their managers' Slack messages, and craft emails to clients. How long will it be before we see a business completely run by an AI bot? At the current rate of advancement, this time will probably come much sooner than any of us may realize.

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Undoubtedly, the limits of this technology is unfathomable. However, we are purpose-driven beings who have always shared many similarities deep within our core. We aim to provide for our families, build on our relationships, and relish in community. Being that we may no longer be bogged down by the minutiae of our daily lives, how do we find a new purpose?

 

Personally, there are two main concerns I can pinpoint… (beyond AI taking over the world and killing us all).

 

1. We have become a society addicted to immediate gratification and consumption. The current status quo does not include problem solvers striving to achieve at scale. If AI replaces the workforce, it would likely remove the need for individuals to establish their identity through their careers. Many entrepreneurs and employees alike, define themselves through the work they perform each day. How would one go about transitioning that inherent purpose, toward other areas of their life? 

2. Perhaps more concerning; what happens when we realize the process of creating a “first draft” of something, was actually the same process that inspired new ideas, which often led to the uncovering of new solutions to unknown problems? If AI removes the challenges of creating that initial product, how would we ever arrive at the final polished version, which was crafted in part by testing and refining those earlier creations?

 

In a podcast episode from 2023, Andrew Huberman (an American Neuroscientist) cites medical studies, such as “Dopamine Updated: Reward Prediction Error and Beyond in Neurobiology” showing that when performing hard work, there’s a dopamine release which we all crave as humans. In order to achieve that release, there’s an initial friction that occurs. In short, these studies reveal the human mind enjoys the act of labor. However, the initial friction felt at the onset isn’t always pleasant. According to these conclusions, many people avoid difficult tasks, in favor of scrolling through their phones or watching Netflix. These mind-numbing activities that require little to no human thought, actually provide an immediate dopamine release without the friction of a challenging task. In other words, you skip all of the resistance, and get straight to the dopamine hit. This process is similar to the behaviors of addicts in certain scenarios. Unfortunately, avoiding the “friction” that comes along with hard work, is the complete opposite of the mental and physiological nature of humans at their true core. This study would make it seem as if we are essentially choosing to avoid a larger purpose, to gain an immediate reward.

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To be human is to be a unique creature built for problem solving. We are not the biggest, fastest, or deadliest creatures on this planet (without tools), yet we are dominant because of our minds, and problem-solving abilities (and of course our thumbs). From a biological standpoint, if AI is solving our problems for us, how are we going to redefine our purpose on this planet? 

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