Bolashak - Week 11 - Generation AI

Slide 1

Generation AI

In an era of effortless “thinking”,

what should we teach tomorrow’s world?


Slide 2

MANY RESPONSES

What AI cannot (yet) do:
Mix of cognitive, physical and social tasks (so-called “trades”: plumbing, cooking, nursing, care, gardening)
These tasks that don’t “automate” easily – always many minute & simple decisions that combine mind, body and an understanding of others
Show curiosity: explore & understand the world (AI does not have desire)
More abstractly: Activities that involve genuine orientation towards time, temporality, mortality, finitude

What we do not want AI to do:
Counselling, friendship, love, empathy
These involve pleasure, because another recognizes us (Hegel, Honneth)
If we are not recognized by this other which is like us, then it may not matter how well that other pretends to be like us
(and yet AI romance, therapy, friendship is booming)
Leadership
Leadership involves accountability - taking responsibility for mistakes etc. Not simply rationality


Slide 3

Consequences of an automated world

Proletarianization (Stiegler): dramatic & complete loss of knowledge (savoir-faire, savoir-vivre, savoir-theoriser)
Every education task can be completed through automation
Every credential is granted through automation
Every publication is generated: both the writing & the review
Every job application is auto-generated, auto-reviewed
Competition & merit become meaningless
This is already an issue for journals (e.g. AI & Society)

Why resist?
Not because the current systems of education & employment are fair
Instead because:
Work, study involve effort – and this produces proper education, character development, satisfaction
The path through “full automation” will likely only serve incumbent wealth & power
Current AI “race” is like a land grab: who can secure resources for the future economy? Will be very hard to dislodge
Education – with but also beyond AI – is central to producing adults, citizens, workers who


Slide 4

What to teach? SOme ideas

Foundations
Histories: of art, science, etc. For its own sake, but also how to use AI
Argumentation, rhetoric, criticism

Drama, public speaking, performance
Curiosity, passion, creativity
Collaborative power: with other people, with AI