I love this, because what AI can never do are the soft skills like love, empathy, nurturing. Squeezing you in a bear hug, holding your hand as you cry. This post proved to me that what we humans all need now, are the things we all need to thrive… human connection, energetic exchange, looking into each other’s eyes, feeling another’s breath on our skin, penetration in all forms, touch, smell, sound, feeling. All things that make us human are now and will again be the most valuable things we can share in a world gone digitally mad.
Nice! I love how many people have a similar mission. I don't think we have lost the generation - I have the privilege of working with some of the most amazing generation Z's around the world and I am constantly blown away by how intimately they share with each other when in person. In a workshop last week, one corporate graduate said to another, 'I am so glad we had this experience together - I was so stressed about meeting everybody, but you are all so great.' The thought of my parents (60) saying something like that is unthinkable! They know how to connect... but perhaps have less opportunity :)
It’s a great point you bring up Jack, I’ve always worked on the other end of the spectrum and have seen the lack of socialisation skills a lot of kids have and it’s really sad to see
Seriously though, I feel like in the Intelligent Age humans will thrive and become ever more deeply human, sinking into and valuing the beauty of what we truly are when we stop trying to be machines (as we have been trying to be for most of the industrial age). Still figuring out exactly what being human means, but thank you for painting that beautiful picture of one piece of it 🙏
Yes this EXACTLY, Rachel. Perhaps when AI takes all of these “jobs” we will be freed up to experience the richness of human connection and intimacy. What a delicious thing to be human! 💜
ahh this is so true! Human connection (face to face ideally!) + curiosity to move away from the 'average knowledge/opinion' which ChatGPT drags us towards + communities based on shared passions
Great article... Some interesting points... Other points sound greatly exaggerated. Historically technological shifts create new opportunities along with disruptions... Doesn't mean a robot is your next lover or colleague... Just means it allows people to tackle more complex, higher order tasks.
There are definitely some exaggerated points. In the moment I don't think much of them, then when I read back over a week later I think "mmm that's not right." But I tend to leave it because I do think exaggeration holds some value.
For my own personality, hyperbolic statements tend to give me a lot of clarity. Like there's no other option. The way I justify leaving the exaggerated parts is for that reason, because it does seem to benefit others like me a lot more than nuancing my impact to death haha.
The AI shift isn't about replacing us. It's about elevating what "us" means.
I'm not fighting automation—I'm becoming a prompt engineer of my own expertise, turning my knowledge into systems that scale beyond what one person could accomplish alone.
Nice article - whilst learning how to use AI as incredibly well as you do is super important. I am encouraging anyone I speak to that the best companions to great AI skills are: (1) the ability to connect with humans (FACE to FACE); (2) pushing at the boundaries of our own thoughts. AI seems to trend us towards average thought. How can we think from a diverse point of view... human connection, exploration, learning and reading; and (3) forming communities based on shared passions, values and ideals, as opposed to blood, borders and religion.
I love your shorter posts on Substack! With your long email letters, I would often skim because they were still trying to convince me of the idea when I was already convinced after the first three paragraphs.
Anyway, your writing has been invaluable to me as I try to learn how to use AI efficiently. "Don't give AI complete control over the things you deeply care about (don't have it do the work for you)." -- this is a mistake I made recently, with dangerous consequences had I gone ahead with the result. I was acting on AI advice what & how to write, which stopped feeling authentic very quickly. I'm still learning but your writing & prompts have been inspiring & helpful. Keep up the good work!
Great article! We all need to self evolve and upgrade. Who wants to do manual meaningless work anyway. The thing is that a lot of people don't know how to properly use there brain to even level up on this. What's going to happen to them?
I love this, because what AI can never do are the soft skills like love, empathy, nurturing. Squeezing you in a bear hug, holding your hand as you cry. This post proved to me that what we humans all need now, are the things we all need to thrive… human connection, energetic exchange, looking into each other’s eyes, feeling another’s breath on our skin, penetration in all forms, touch, smell, sound, feeling. All things that make us human are now and will again be the most valuable things we can share in a world gone digitally mad.
Couldn’t agree more Kristen, in an increasingly AI world and soon to be robots people will be desperately searching for depth and connection. I’m
Afraid that we’re raising a generation who have lost this ability to connect, it’s my mission to not let that happen.
SAME!
Nice! I love how many people have a similar mission. I don't think we have lost the generation - I have the privilege of working with some of the most amazing generation Z's around the world and I am constantly blown away by how intimately they share with each other when in person. In a workshop last week, one corporate graduate said to another, 'I am so glad we had this experience together - I was so stressed about meeting everybody, but you are all so great.' The thought of my parents (60) saying something like that is unthinkable! They know how to connect... but perhaps have less opportunity :)
It’s a great point you bring up Jack, I’ve always worked on the other end of the spectrum and have seen the lack of socialisation skills a lot of kids have and it’s really sad to see
Seriously though, I feel like in the Intelligent Age humans will thrive and become ever more deeply human, sinking into and valuing the beauty of what we truly are when we stop trying to be machines (as we have been trying to be for most of the industrial age). Still figuring out exactly what being human means, but thank you for painting that beautiful picture of one piece of it 🙏
Yes this EXACTLY, Rachel. Perhaps when AI takes all of these “jobs” we will be freed up to experience the richness of human connection and intimacy. What a delicious thing to be human! 💜
ahh this is so true! Human connection (face to face ideally!) + curiosity to move away from the 'average knowledge/opinion' which ChatGPT drags us towards + communities based on shared passions
Humanity is always expanding. It’s irreplaceable because we are divine. 💜
Amen. At this rate, we are all at risk of becoming meat puppets controlled by silicon strings: https://www.whitenoise.email/p/the-inverse-mechanical-turk-meat
This is a huge wake-up call.
So many of us still live in denial or aren't even aware enough to understand what's happening.
Thank you, Dan.
Fantastic article! So thought-provoking and full of wisdom. I love having younger mentors like you (I am 70 years of age).
Thank you Laura :) and likewise. I love how those in their 50s+ are starting to share everything they've learned. Humbles me in many ways haha
Have had a lot of conversations lately with creators around this subject and this is a very well articulated response - thanks Dan!
Thank you for reading sir!
Great article... Some interesting points... Other points sound greatly exaggerated. Historically technological shifts create new opportunities along with disruptions... Doesn't mean a robot is your next lover or colleague... Just means it allows people to tackle more complex, higher order tasks.
There are definitely some exaggerated points. In the moment I don't think much of them, then when I read back over a week later I think "mmm that's not right." But I tend to leave it because I do think exaggeration holds some value.
For my own personality, hyperbolic statements tend to give me a lot of clarity. Like there's no other option. The way I justify leaving the exaggerated parts is for that reason, because it does seem to benefit others like me a lot more than nuancing my impact to death haha.
❤️❤️❤️
I think this is spot on, Dan.
The AI shift isn't about replacing us. It's about elevating what "us" means.
I'm not fighting automation—I'm becoming a prompt engineer of my own expertise, turning my knowledge into systems that scale beyond what one person could accomplish alone.
Thankyou for this valuable post. Which are the other ai tools than ChatGPT?
Nice article - whilst learning how to use AI as incredibly well as you do is super important. I am encouraging anyone I speak to that the best companions to great AI skills are: (1) the ability to connect with humans (FACE to FACE); (2) pushing at the boundaries of our own thoughts. AI seems to trend us towards average thought. How can we think from a diverse point of view... human connection, exploration, learning and reading; and (3) forming communities based on shared passions, values and ideals, as opposed to blood, borders and religion.
Really thought-provoking stuff here, Dan. I think a lot of people are simply ignoring the coming change hoping it won’t impact them. It will.
I think there’s also a lot of people who don’t know what to do because the speed at which it evolves paralyses them.
This 100%. No one understands the dangers of AI.
I love your shorter posts on Substack! With your long email letters, I would often skim because they were still trying to convince me of the idea when I was already convinced after the first three paragraphs.
Anyway, your writing has been invaluable to me as I try to learn how to use AI efficiently. "Don't give AI complete control over the things you deeply care about (don't have it do the work for you)." -- this is a mistake I made recently, with dangerous consequences had I gone ahead with the result. I was acting on AI advice what & how to write, which stopped feeling authentic very quickly. I'm still learning but your writing & prompts have been inspiring & helpful. Keep up the good work!
Great article! We all need to self evolve and upgrade. Who wants to do manual meaningless work anyway. The thing is that a lot of people don't know how to properly use there brain to even level up on this. What's going to happen to them?
Great article! Now I will start pushing AI by figuring out what it cannot do today, and then transform this gap into an opportunity for tomorrow!
Dan, reading white on black for a long article hurts my eyes. May be consider lowering the color contrast?
this is the best thing i've read on the internet on the topic AI. Thanks so so much, Dan!
For empowering the confused-me and giving a new perspective on life amidst the AI-noise. Hats off!