By Janice K. Mandel
In his July 31 New York Times opinion piece, “Many People Fear AI. They Shouldn’t,” David Brooks offers a reassuring perspective on artificial intelligence as part of a thought-provoking series challenging conventional wisdom.
In this article
Brooks draws on Canadian scholar Michael Ignatieff’s insights from the journal ‘Liberties’ to emphasize the uniquely human nature of our cognitive processes.
Brooks builds a compelling case for human exceptionalism, highlighting our possession of consciousness, emotions, and moral sentiments—attributes that AI currently lacks.
However, his assertion that “most people are pretty decent and will use AI to learn more, innovate faster and produce advances like medical breakthroughs” warrants closer examination.
As a writer and researcher specializing in conversational AI, I appreciate Brooks’ encouragement to embrace our distinctly human qualities.
Yet, I propose that discussions on AI should extend beyond mere reassurance to include practical strategies for maximizing benefits while mitigating risks.
Reaping the Benefits
To harness AI’s potential effectively, we should:
1. Identify high-impact applications in crucial sectors like healthcare and education
2. Invest in comprehensive AI education for stakeholders
3. Encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration to address complex challenges
Minimizing Risks
Simultaneously, we must:
1. Implement robust AI governance frameworks
2. Prioritize data quality, privacy, and security
3. Ensure transparency and explainability in AI systems
4. Conduct regular audits and assessments
5. Maintain human oversight in AI processes
Fostering Collaboration
The creative arts and technology sectors should collaborate to develop strategies for designing, implementing, and maintaining trustworthy AI systems that operate reliably, ethically, and fairly.
This approach is crucial to ensure information shared is accurate, avoid harm to individuals and organizations, combat bias, and uphold brand reputation and regulatory compliance.
Policy and Community Engagement
Given AI’s potential societal impact, policymakers and communities must work together to align this rapidly advancing technology with our values of inclusion, accessibility, and social betterment. We need laws that support and protect those who prioritize human welfare in AI development and deployment.
By embracing AI’s potential while remaining vigilant about its risks, we can harness this technology to enhance our human capabilities and create a more equal and innovative future.
Let’s approach AI with optimism, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared humanity.
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Since 2020, Janice K. Mandel has researched, written and served as a communications consultant to the Open Voice TrustMark Initiative (TrustMark.AI) , one of the many projects of the Linux Foundation. She edited the course “Ethical Considerations for Conversational AI” on the edX platform (with two other courses in progress on awareness and implementation considerations for trustworthy generative AI.)
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