Authentically Human
On generative AI and the yearning for soulful products and genuine human connection
Newsletter No. 3, I’m slowly getting used to this. And I hope those of you who keep reading continue to find value and inspiration in every issue.
This week, I decided to not dig into the archives but write up my thoughts on a topic that’s been on my mind for months: How are we going to manage and influence the potential loss of human connection in a world filled with mass-produced digital artifacts thanks to generative AI? And what role will truly human-made objects play?
As always, thank you for reading. Please send any ideas, questions and feedback my way via email or leave them in the comments.
Authentically Human
Countless things have been said and written about generative artificial intelligence (GAI) – be it in-depth articles written by ChatGPT, breath-taking images created by Midjourney or even human-like voices generated by ElevenLabs.
So, instead of covering the amazingness of AI, I’m curious and interested in digging deeper into the potential consequences the soul-less mass production of digital assets might have – and how we can deal with them in a way that is good for the world and the people living in it.
Outpaced by technology deployment
In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, few advancements have been as groundbreaking and awe-inspiring as GAI. Not only in their record-breaking deployment time but the sheer mass of artifacts produced per unit of time. I still remember how stunned I was when I first saw the pace of a Midjourney discord filling up with generated high-res images in seconds with no end in sight.
These systems have the power to create astonishingly realistic art, music, literature, and even human-like conversations that the human mind cannot truly comprehend.
As we marvel at the wonders of generative AI, it’s imperative, I believe, that we pause and reflect on the profound challenges GAI presents and the critical considerations surrounding authenticity, human connection, and the preservation of genuine human creativity.
“We’re entering an era where we can no longer believe our eyes. Instead of ‘trust but verify,’ it's going to become ‘verify then trust.’ You’ll want to verify exactly where and how an asset was made before you determine whether you can trust it.” —Scott Belsky, Adobe’s Chief Strategy Officer
The authenticity conundrum of digital mass production
As generative AI becomes increasingly sophisticated, distinguishing human-made artifacts from machine-generated ones becomes a daunting task. The line between what is authentically human and what is artificially produced becomes blurry, raising concerns about originality, ownership, and the preservation of artistic and intellectual legacies. We risk losing the essence of what makes human creations unique if we fail to address this conundrum.
And as we contemplate generative AI’s impact, I cannot help but draw parallels to the industrial revolution and the advent of mass production. Just as machines once revolutionized manufacturing, GAI is transforming the creative process. The unprecedented efficiency and quantity of AI-produced artifacts bear striking similarities to the mass-produced goods that became commonplace in the last century. This shift has democratized access to creative works but also led to concerns about devaluing the human touch.
Or, to take it further: not dissimilar to mass-produced physical goods, is GAI leading to virtual mountains of soul-less digital waste?
Buddhist tradition and the soul of a product
I’ve long-believed, and tried to instill in my teams, mentees and students that people can feel how a product (or piece of art) was made. But it wasn’t until I studied the Buddhist tradition’s concept of the eight bodies that I arrived at an explanation for how this actually “works”.
The buddhist tradition speaks of a “body” as a collection of energy. More importantly, the concept of the eight bodies is deeply connected to the 1st law of thermodynamics: Energy cannot be created or destroyed.
The most succinct description of the this concept that I’ve found so far is in Thich Nhat Hanh’s book “The art of living”, and I will quote the relevant part below. I won’t go into all 8 bodies since they’re not all relevant for this article but encourage you to read the book since it’s a delightfully mind-opening read.
“We can be here and also in a distant country… We don’t have to be present with our physical body. When I write a book, I transform myself into thousands of me that can go a little bit everywhere. Every book becomes my body outside the body.”—Thich Nhat Hanh, The Art of Living
So, when Thich Nhat Hanh speaks of the sixth body as “the body outside the body”, he describes our ability as humans to transform some of our own energy and infuse the things we make with it. Thus, a part of us continues to exist in the products we bring into the world. As humans we’re deeply receptive to the level of care (read energy) that has (or hasn’t) been put into a product we touch. That’s what I call the soul of a product.
Authentically human creations as luxury items
Given the rapid pace of GAI deployment, my current assumption is that more and more artifacts we’re exposed to daily will be mass-produced using generative AI – simply because it’s cheaper. But cheaper doesn’t mean more energetically and/or emotionally “nutritious”. Thus, I believe we’ll see an increase in the need for human connection as the number or GAI-produced artifacts grows exponentialy.
People will seek out and cherish original, human-made works as a testament to craftsmanship, passion, and the imperfections that make us human. The value of a unique piece created by a person, with all their emotions, stories and experiences, will transcend the allure of mass-produced AI-generated pieces.
However, given the parallels we can draw between the industrialization of mass-produced physical goods (as well as food), it’s fair to assume that the cost of those authentically human creations will increase drastically and thus become luxury items only affordable by those with higher incomes.
Connecting the dots, the questions I’m exploring are these: In a world inundated with massive amounts AI-generated artifacts, are authentically human creations poised to become symbols of rarity and luxury (just like we’ve seen happening to physical artifacts)? And what impact will this have on humans and global societies as a whole given that we’re intrinsically longing for care and connection? Will we see the increase in emotional and mental health cases accelerating even more?
The antidote to artificiality
With an influx of AI-generated content, the demand for a certification process to identify authentically human creations is paramount. Much like provenance in the art world, we need a system that traces the origin of a piece back to a human creator. Blockchain technology, with its immutable and transparent nature, may hold the key to establishing a trustworthy chain of custody for creative works. This certification could not only protect artists and their creations but also provide consumers with the assurance of acquiring genuine human-made products – if we do it right, and currently we’re far from that.
More importantly, in a society increasingly reliant on digital goods and interactions, the thirst for tangible human experiences will intensify. An increase in live performances, physical art and hand-made products, interactive workshops, and face-to-face interactions might emerge as antidotes to the artificiality of the digital realm. And just like we‘ve seen in hand-made luxury goods, documenting the process and story behind a product will become as relevant, if not more important than the actual piece of work itself.
The authenticity and soulfulness of real-life experiences will become a sought-after commodity, fostering genuine connections between creators and their audiences for those who can afford them. These experiences will reaffirm our humanity and the significance of human interaction – as long as they can be accessed by the majority of people.
“AI is a tool. The choice about how it gets deployed is ours.”
—Oren Etzioni
The world we want to live in
The rise of generative AI brings forth a number of challenges and considerations that transcend technology itself. The quest for authenticity, the certification of human creations, and the longing for genuine human connection highlight the importance of embracing and preserving our innate human spirit captured in the souls of products.
I believe there are many rich, important, and nuanced conversations to be had in the space between the “don’t panic, everything’s amazing, we’ll all be fine” and “OMG we’re all doomed”.
While AI brings immense benefits and convenience, we must be cautious not to lose sight of the value of authentic human contributions. The preservation of creativity, originality, and human connection should be at the forefront of our efforts to integrate AI into our lives responsibly.
As we forge ahead into this new era, let us tread carefully, mindful of our choices, and steadfast in our commitment to celebrating the brilliance of the human mind and heart.
3 Inspirations
Art as fundamental sustenance for our souls: This video that Tim Ferris reposted from Questlove’s page on Instagram is a wonderfully moving summary of why we create as humans. If you watch one thing this week, make it this video.
When I first saw some demo videos of Runway Gen-2 I first couldn’t believe my eyes. It is fascinating to see the speed at which technology evolves at the same time as I’m diving deeper into questioning how much soul any fully auto-generated image, still or motion, can capture.
The TED video “The enchanting music of sign language” left me speechless. It is absolutely remarkable to see the ways humans are able to not only capture but transmit energy and in turn make an emotional connection.
You made it. Thank you!
Kudos to you for making it all the way to the end. Since this is all new to me, please share your feedback, questions or any topics you’d like me to touch on.
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