Let’s have a heated debate! #105-106
So said the inimitable Mrs Merton...
“AI will widen inequality more than it will increase productivity”
Or will it.
Such was the motion at The Sylvans1 debating society the other Monday.
Of course, as an expert on AI and its likely impact on business, life and the future of humanity - #not- this was a doddle for me…
I love a good debate. And I’m fascinated to learn. So, I dragged my mate Tracey along and off we went to the Ole Cock Tavern on Fleet Street, once a hotbed of journalistic endeavour, to listen, discover and heavens knows, maybe chip in.
Guinness zeros in hand, it was a Monday after all, we joined the meeting.
Proposing and Opposing
The motion was proposed by Helena, a hugely impressive, fin-tech entrepreneur friend of mine. The financial planning app tech start-up she is building is AI first. A woman immersed in a world of cutting edge LLMs and technology. Experiencing first hand the ruthless world of capital raising, venture capital and private equity - tough for a man, nigh on impossible for a woman. Not to be beaten, she fights on.
Helena spoke of her experience of AI restructuring some of the most rudimentary tasks in her lean start-up. Not to mention the AI assistant her team has built as the core of the business, Aida, passing the exams needed to provide financial advice.
Her warning – the technology is moving fast. Get with the AI programme or get left behind in the workplace. Even worse, get ready to lose your job.
The opposer offered a calm and thoughtfully structured riposte. He spoke of the ability for AI to help solve many of the challenges facing the world today and the exponential productivity boost that could follow. He contrasted the fears we hear with those voiced at the time of the invention of the printing press, the industrial revolution, the internet…and still life goes on. Humanity adapting to the needs of the time.
The floor
The debate opened to the crowd. A wide range of ages and backgrounds, mainly men with a sizeable minority of women. Their views expressed the need for government regulation, the introduction of a Universal Basic Income, an overhaul of taxation systems to tax machines and profits rather than the declining working population, and an uncertainty around the intent and integrity of the dominating tech bros. Others had a bit of a ramble or seemingly just practiced their public speaking skills.
The vote included a number of abstentions. I was one of them. We can speculate, debate and pontificate on where AI is taking us but in truth, we just don’t know. Yet.
My view? People need people; humanity, purpose, community, connection and a sense of belonging. AI may revolutionise the way we work, plan and research but deep down I think humans will learn to use this incredible tool to leverage our innate abilities, not kill us.
My strong steer to anyone, and my generation in particular, is get involved, learn, use it. A case in point, Claude recently analysed a seven-page pdf summarising the debits, credits and energy usage of my brother’s electricity consumption. Full analysis and response provided within five minutes. A task that would have taken me hours of tedium and frustration, done! Get stuck in. You may just find it super charges many areas of your life, not just work.2
Respect
Of course, the topic of the debate doesn’t really matter. The purpose of The Sylvans is:
“To bring together a diverse group of people to discuss topics in depth in a friendly atmosphere of mutual respect.”
I can’t help thinking we need more of this – places to meet to respectfully share opinions and see the other side of the ‘argument’.
The views of others were stimulating. Many points raised I’d never thought of. Some people raised my hackles. Some I agreed with. Regardless, it was a welcome opportunity to mix with people different to me and learn. People I would not normally interact with. How lucky, and important, is that.
You
As ever I’m interested in you. Where do you go to hear differing views? To be challenged? Does a debating society interest you?
Pour yourself a tasty livener and drop me a line, I’d love to hear from you.
And remember, you’re never going to be any younger than you are today; debate, decide and just bloody do it!
Until next week my friends.
Ruth x
If you enjoyed this week’s post, please do leave a comment, a ❤️, share or subscribe, I’d love to hear from you or have you along. Thank you.
Learn more about The Sylvans - why not go along, you’d be very welcome I’m sure.
If you are interested in learning more about AI check out Heather Murray and her AI for Non Techies website. Or track her down on Linked In here.
I’ve always liked the concept of debate done well. I am very interested to learn more so have signed up!
Always great to keep stepping outside what is comfortable and testing our understanding on something.
That sounds like a really interesting debate - Helena is a force to be reckoned with! It's interesting that you pick up on this need for respectful disagreement. If we all agree all the time ALWAYS then we'll end up with a very narrow view of the world.
I'm in agreement with your perspective that people need people. AI will either rob us of our ability to think for ourselves (the 'dumbification' outcome), or free us up from the tedious tasks so we can leverage our humanity. :-)
Really enjoying this glimpse into your 'next chapter'