Augmenting Human Intelligence - engaging in a broader discussion

Augmenting Human Intelligence - engaging in a broader discussion

Poh-Sun Goh

28 June 2023, 1120pm, Singapore Time

As we experiment with, and develop a feel of the role, and value add of Artificial Intelligence (AI), engaging in a broader discussion of how we augment human intelligence can be helpful.

Why do we learn? How do we learn? What do we do when we have a question? Or need to find out how to do something? At the workplace, or in social and recreational settings? Empirical observations, reflection on personal practice, and focused interviews at the workplace bring up common actions - i.e. which are to look it up online or in a guide, ask someone (e.g. a peer, more experience colleague, or expert), read around the topic and do background research, or get training (e.g. short course, or longer training program).

When we look something up online, background AI algorithms including autocomplete text options in the search box, and sections of common similar and related questions and answers, as well as online resources, articles and reviews are served up to us on the first page of answers, reflecting what has been found useful for others (by viewership, engagement, time spent, click throughs and recommendations/citations). As we engage further with online content, background AI algorithms designed to keep us online will continue to refine what the search engine and online pages present and serve up to us. In this way, we are already taking advantage of AI, either consciously or unconsciously, on a regular basis, whenever we look something up online on a search engine, and progressively engage with content. This process mimics what happens when we 'ask someone', a peer, or experience colleague. In the case of online searches the process is massively scaled up taking advantage of a large pool of previous and ongoing topic searches, progressively refined by our further search and engagement behaviour. 

Embedded co-pilot AI within familiar professional and productivity software, and mobile Apps can potentially increase our productivity, by offering us first cut templates, initial drafts, and suggestions, drawn from what these AI models and tools have been trained on. As human users we then add individual and specific task based customisation and personalisation. Where and how AI adds value, and understanding how, when and to what extent we use AI will be an ongoing, iterative process. As we seek to get the job done, as efficiently and effectively as possible. Ultimately AI is simply another tool in our toolbox or toolkit. To be used, or not. Depending on what we need to do, and what the situation demands. 

Further Reading

Christensen CM, Hall T, Dillon K, Duncan DS. Know your customers’ “jobs to be done”. https://hbr.org/2016/09/know-your-customers-jobs-to-be-done. Accessed 28 June, 2023.

Gartner Hype Cycle. https://www.gartner.com/en/research/methodologies/gartner-hype-cycle. Accessed on 28 June 2023.

Goh, PS. Medical Educator Roles of the Future. (2020). Med.Sci.Educ. 30 (Suppl 1), 5–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-020-01086-w

Goh, PS. (2021). 'The vision of transformation in medical education after the COVID-19 pandemic'. Korean J Med Educ. 33 (3): 171-174. https://doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2021.197