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Have you thought about how nowadays everyone seems to be an expert on AI or any other subject for that matter? People are coming out of the woodwork to tell you about new technologies, trends and ways to work more effectively with the magical power that is artificial intelligence. Yours truly included, that is.
At first glance, this might be seen as something that is suboptimal or even bad. Surely no one can claim to be an expert overnight and the world must be teeming with false prophets, just trying to get ahead. And while that is true to some extent, every technological breakthrough will create a literal flood of self-proclaimed experts and evangelists, this time it’s different. This time it’s actually true.
The rise of artificial intelligence has ushered in a new era of democratization, where knowledge and skills are no longer the exclusive domain of a select few. The long-awaited and almost fabled Knowledge Society is finally here.
These new AI-powered tools are breaking down the barriers of old and are empowering individuals to learn, create, and innovate in ways that were once unimaginable. This democratization of expertise is reshaping the professional landscape, creating a world where everyone, regardless of background or experience, has the potential to become an expert.
Before AI, knowledge and skills had to be earned, obtained through books and higher studies, or learned from years in the field. The internet helped create the base of this revolution by spreading the seeds of knowledge, information itself, to anyone with access to it. But without the resources to process that information into knowledge much of it remained out of reach for many people.
One of the most significant ways AI has democratized this process is by making complex tasks more accessible and the power to process information trivial for all. For example, AI-powered writing assistants can help individuals craft professional emails, write compelling blog posts or even draft creative stories without having the skills to do so themselves. By supplying the essence, the message or starting prompt, any user can create high-quality content with minimal effort.
Similarly, AI-powered design tools are making it easier for people like me to create stunning visuals without extensive design training or artistic skills. These tools can quickly generate design layouts and images enabling anyone to create professional-grade designs in the blink of an eye. This democratization of design allows individuals to bring their creative visions to life, regardless of their formal education or experience and opens a whole new world of possibilities for us all.
Before the current Cambrian explosion of AI, there were two types of experts. Those that deserved the title, those who earned it, and then there were the posers that just read a book and claimed the title for themselves. Now there is a new type of expert in town, the augmented expert, a person with skills of some form that is augmented to have skills far beyond those they possess by themselves.
By combining the vast resources of information at our fingertips with the processing powers of AI we can all transcend and adapt to the situation. In the example before with the ‘proper experts’ that earned their title after years of hard work and struggle we fail to remember that those individuals were often cast aside as tech, skills and people get stale over time.
Experts are fleeting and their knowledge only valuable for a brief moment in time. By augmenting ourselves we allow us to upskill and reskill throughout our whole careers, ensuring that we remain relevant in an ever-evolving job market and adapting to whatever the market throws at us.
However, there is a catch, as this democratization of expertise also presents challenges. As AI tools become more sophisticated, there is a risk of overreliance on these tools, leading to a decline in critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It is important to use AI as a tool to enhance human creativity and productivity, rather than as a replacement for it.
We humans are lazy and so we tend to take the easy way out and skip boring work. It’s, therefore, key that we understand our role in this symbiotic relationship. We are the augmented party, we are responsible for what we do, not the AI. If an email gets sent that is subpar, factually wrong, or disturbing, we can’t blame our AI assistant. We must take responsibility.
If we are to be the experts, we need to factcheck and learn from what our AI assistant or underling is trying to teach us. We can’t fall asleep at the wheel; we are still in command and ultimately the ones responsible and in charge.
Despite these challenges, this democratization of expertise has the potential to transform society for the better, I’m sure. By empowering individuals to learn, create, and innovate, we can unlock new possibilities for economic growth, social progress and cultural development. And our journey has just begun. We are standing at the shore of the knowledge ocean, recently we waded a little way out, and the waters seem inviting.
