AI lacks the ability to perform manual labor independently.
From AI to Humanity: A Tech Week Refresh
It's Tech Week in the Big Apple, and the city's vibe is all San Fran. Bars are buzzing with tech founders and investors, mingling during networking sessions. One event, a power walk, kicks off the week, and you'd think it's all about space-age gadgets and AI. But there's more to it than meets the eye.
As I arrived early for the walk, I found a chilly crowd huddled together, some in shorts - the brave ones. The whispers of AI echoed everywhere.
Hierarchy of Needs: Humans First
Out of six tech whizzes I chatted up, five had AI at the core of their projects. Yet, interestingly enough, all five mentioned that there's a vital skill AI can't touch: interpersonal skills.
Somya Gupta (25), the visionary behind Context, an AI education startup, put it bluntly, "AI will never replace human relationships, dealing with people." Gupta believes that real-life interactions set Tech Week apart.
Ben Spray (21), CEO of Consolidated Consulting, shared a similar sentiment. Despite working on an AI-powered IT department that's slated to manage his current startup, Spray believes that AI lacks in design and emotional intelligence. While AI can code, it cannot grasp "really, really diverse connections."
Matt Bishop, founder of Open City Labs, has worked on AI chatbots before they were trendy. His company aggregates health data and creates personalized care plans using AI. Despite AI's prowess, "AI doesn't mean we don't need doctors," Bishop told me. Instead, doctors should learn to harness AI effectively.
AI: The Job Market's Double-Edged Sword
Of course, I had to inquire about the tech bros' thoughts on AI eating jobs. Matt Slavik (36), and Ondrej Illek (32), the minds behind an AI-assisted recruitment company, understand the concern. They insist on a human touch during the recruitment process to give it that extra edge.
However, the job market is an uphill battle, says Bishop, and the only way to stay competitive seems to be to master AI. But the optimistic Gupta, who runs an AI education company, assures that AI will replace inefficient workers, but those equipped to work with it will enhance their productivity.
As we trudged up Manhattan's west side, I found it peculiar that amid all the tech-talk, people gathered without their laptops and phones. They interacted human to human, chatting about robots, all the while maintaining that undeniable, essential human touch. Even at Tech Week, the human element remainsparamount.
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What about the role of technology in education and self-development, considering the AI focus during Tech Week?Somya Gupta, Ben Spray, and Matt Bishop all acknowledge that while AI is essential, interpersonal skills and human relationships cannot be replaced by technology.
