Do You really Want Chat GPT to Talk for You?
I have to admit it: AI as a productivity tool is revolutionary. It is the ultimate machine. It allows us to accomplish much more in less time.
But imagine this scenario: Tim wants to send an email to Tom to solve a problem. He thinks to himself: What would be the best way to influence Tom so that the problem gets solved?
He then inputs this exact question into ChatGPT. The machine generates an email, and Tim sends it.
Now Tom has received the email, but not wanting to think about the problem, lets ChatGPT do the work, generate a response, and send it back to Tim.
My question is: Who is actually talking and making decisions here?
A machine is talking to itself.
A human interaction is lost.
Social media has made us more self-centered and lonely. AI could make this trend even worse. We need each other—not just psychologically, but physically. Prolonged isolation can shorten your life by up to 15 years, the same as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. We thrive when we are together, when we share information and emotions.
But the problem with AI isn’t just increased isolation. People could start asking the machine: Who should I vote for? Should I marry her? Who should I trust? Slowly, power could shift from humans to machines—or, more precisely, to the humans who control those machines.
My first point: Humans make decisions based on intelligence, experience, and emotions. A machine may one day surpass our intelligence, but it will never have our experience or emotions.
My second point: When we think and work collectively, magic happens. We come up with creative solutions, our bonds are strengthened, and we feel happier. Human connection has been the key to our evolution, survival, and success.
My conclusion: Don’t delegate decisions to machines, and don’t cut yourself off from others. Doing so will erode your self-esteem and leave you feeling powerless.
Social media promised more connection, yet we feel lonelier than ever.
AI promises more power, but if we’re not careful, the opposite could happen.
Carmen López. Business Psychology