Quiet Rewiring. Part 3

EI in AI. What remains human may not be obvious, and that’s something to ponder upon.

In my last two reflections, I noticed something subtle happening. 𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁. This ongoing exchange with AI is not as neutral as I once thought. It helps, but it also changes how I relate to my own thinking.

This leads me to a more specific and important question: 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?

I am noticing a contradiction that is hard to ignore. Recent research shows that people often rate 𝗔𝗜-𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀*. But when people find out a response is from AI, their preferences change. 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻. This shows a clear difference between how we judge quality and what source we prefer.

𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀. But empathy is more than just language. It is about what we sense, hold, and feel. It is about staying present in moments that might be unclear or uncomfortable.

That deeper layer cannot be automated. This is where I notice the change becoming more obvious.

𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱. In fact, it is what sets us apart, even if it is harder to see now. It does not always show up in better words or more polished answers. Instead, it shows in the judgment behind those responses.

𝗔𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀.

Sometimes, we need to think more deeply, to explore, question, and refine. Other times, AI gives us a quick answer, and we just accept it and move on. Both ways are efficient, but they are very different.

Over time, the difference between these two ways of engaging becomes clear. One keeps us connected to our thoughts and the situation. With the other, there is a risk of feeling distant and less involved, even if the result looks better.

Maybe this is now the main role of emotional intelligence: not just expressing, but knowing when to seek help and when to sit with our own discomfort.

𝗔𝗜 𝗯𝘆 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹.

I will share more thoughts in my next reflection.

Sources:
https://shorturl.at/JZTxX
https://shorturl.at/FirwB
https://lnkd.in/gMuP_GAJ

PS: The picture is AI generated