Harnessing Your Unique Identity: Thriving in the Era of AI and Collective Intelligence

Emily Gambacorta, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Central Hudson at Central Hudson

In the age where Automated Technology (AI) is not just an upcoming trend but an inevitable way of life, I urge you to look deeper into how you, as an individual, are going to provide the most value in the workplace as the world races towards enhancing collective intelligence. Within a matter of weeks tech giants like Microsoft and Google have shifted their entire corporate strategies in order to seize control of what they believe will become a new infrastructure layer of the economy. Billions are being invested and risked with the expectation that the faster and better AI is made, the better the rewards for this technology, whose expected revenue is in the trillions. How can we better understand where our talents and identities fit into the future of intelligence?

The first step to knowing where we fit in is understanding what AI is and its limitations.

● AI employs machine learning techniques to improve computer performance through data-driven learning while also recognizing data patterns to make predictions and decisions. AI automates repetitive tasks and can understand and generate human language, enabling communication between humans and machines. AI’s predictive technology and ability to generate human language create efficiencies for repetitive tasks by harnessing the power of collective intelligence into consumable data. AI’s resources are bound by human limitations, including discrimination and bias, misinformation, and a lack of transparency around how decisions are made.

● AI cannot operate within the context of humanity. AI does not have emotions, self-awareness, common sense, or consciousness. AI is absent from shared values and commitment to the welfare of individuals, which requires moral values and qualities to promote understanding, kindness, and empathy towards the benefit of a broader human community.

AI, due to its inability to comprehend human consciousness and moral values, lacks the capacity for self-regulation. Therefore, it necessitates human oversight and control as an essential element of responsible development and deployment. Humans bear the responsibility for AI's training, development, and the establishment of ethical guidelines governing its use to mitigate potential harm and risks. As we move rapidly toward an AI-driven future, offering opportunities for healthcare advancements, environmental sustainability, increased accessibility, and economic growth with substantial financial benefits, we must also confront the associated challenges. These include the risks of bias and discrimination, threats to privacy and security, potential economic disruptions leading to job loss, and the potential for social manipulation.

"The first step to knowing where we fit in is understanding what AI is and its limitations"

While it may not be possible to address all these issues simultaneously, we can take proactive steps to make a difference in the workplace while contributing to solutions. It’s important now more than ever to understand what your unique strengths are and how to manifest them within your everyday work. How do you define your unique strengths?

Utilizing your strengths makes you the most fulfilled and satisfied at work. Your strengths are the qualities unique to you that are you at your best, you have natural abilities and intelligence, and you are drawn more organically. You can identify these strengths in the moments you lose track of time; you are so engaged. You walk away from that moment, energized and more confident than before. You will also get positive feedback on these attributes frequently enough to notice a pattern of how you are showing up and impacting those around you. Think of strengths as a two-way street; when you are utilizing them, you are getting positive energy back that makes you feel stronger. Completing tasks that you are just good at but don’t resonate as strength will feel like a one-way street of giving without receiving. I want you to consider that the strong parts of you that light up your workday are exactly what give a unique perspective and experience that collective intelligence through AI will not be able to mimic. These talents, combined with our innate human ability to connect our work to people, are the competitive advantage that is inherent in all of us. Maximizing our truly unique strengths is what makes us irreplaceable.

Collective intelligence limitations are circumvented by the unique abilities of individuals. Individual levels of brilliance are born from a fabric of our layered identities that make us unique. Intersectionality speaks to how our identities are layered and can overlap to create compounding experiences that shape our lifetime. These intersecting and overlapping identities can be both empowering and oppressing, giving shape to how we experience and interpret the world around us. At work, these diverse identities fuel innovative ideas and unique perspectives and empower businesses to better understand the complex identities within the communities they are looking to reach.

While it is impossible to replicate each individual experience, talent or strength, it is imperative for us as a collective to bring our unique experiences into the world of evolving AI. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and think AI is not for me or it won’t affect me negatively. Know that AI innovation is already financed, smart people are already committed, and evolution is inevitable. The call to action here is to know what you can do to play a role in shaping AI for the better. Here are a few steps:

● Look for and report bias, discrimination, and misinformation: Be careful not to take AI output as truth. If you don’t see your experience replicated in AI and have expertise in a particular domain, consider reviewing existing datasets for biases or gaps. Providing feedback and suggesting improvements can help make datasets more diverse and representative. In general, if you see something unethical, say something by checking for options like "report a problem," "provide feedback," or "flag inappropriate content." These options may be found on the interface, within the AI chat window, or on the platform's website.

● Educate and Engage: Actively participate in discussions about AI ethics, advocating for responsible development, transparency, and fairness in the workplace. Continuously staying informed about AI developments and their implications can enable you to make informed choices and contribute to the ongoing dialogue about AI's role in society. Lastly, support companies and organizations that prioritize ethical AI principles and avoid those that do not.

In a changing world, our humanity remains irreplaceable. Using our unique strengths and identities ensures that humanity endures and thrives in an AI-enhanced future.

 

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