Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to make our lives easier and represents an extraordinary technological advancement comparable to the advent of the internet.
Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to make our lives easier and represents an extraordinary technological advancement comparable to the advent of the internet. However, according to renowned neuroscientist David Rock, the real question is not what artificial intelligence is doing for us, but rather what changes it is bringing about within us. In an interview with UN News, he said that, in some respects, this technology is not changing human beings at all.
The human brain still functions in much the same way when making decisions, solving problems and confronting challenges as it has for thousands of years. However, history shows that major events and prolonged periods of stress can leave profound effects on the brain, shaping human behaviour across generations.
According to David Rock, the present era is different because technology is increasingly giving us a sense of control and autonomy over almost every aspect of our lives. This growing sense of control and independence may appear to make life easier and more peaceful. However, it also creates a hidden risk, particularly as artificial intelligence begins performing tasks that previously required considerable mental effort.
For David Rock, the real concern is not that artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly powerful, but that human beings are becoming willing to hand over their thinking abilities to it. He says that AI tools were adopted rapidly without sufficient consideration of their long-term consequences, and those consequences are now beginning to emerge. Only a small proportion of workers, around five to ten per cent, are using artificial intelligence effectively. These individuals delegate routine and repetitive tasks to AI, allowing them to devote their mental abilities to more important and complex matters.
However, most people are doing the opposite. David Rock explains that the human brain naturally seeks to conserve energy. The idea of not having to make any mental effort is highly appealing. However, this could gradually weaken people's ability to make decisions and form sound judgments. When people delegate not only routine tasks but also analysis, verification and decision-making to artificial intelligence, they may find it increasingly difficult to distinguish between good and bad judgments. Artificial intelligence can provide immediate answers, but speed is no substitute for wisdom. That is why it is essential to keep the brain actively involved in the thinking process. When the human brain stops thinking, these abilities can begin to deteriorate rapidly.
The rise of artificial intelligence is taking place at a time when many people are already struggling to maintain their concentration. According to David Rock, the biggest challenge facing employees today is not a lack of information, but an overwhelming abundance of it. He compares the current situation with the early days of email, which dramatically increased the amount of information people had to process. However, today's situation is far more complex. Employees are constantly exposed to messages, updates, notifications and AI-generated summaries, sometimes in quantities that far exceed the human brain's capacity to handle them.
He says that our brains have genuine limitations. Computers can process thousands of decisions in a matter of moments, but humans cannot. Nevertheless, many organizations operate as though people have unlimited capacity for attention and decision-making. David Rock believes that society is still in the early stages of adapting to artificial intelligence. The situation can be compared to the early days of automobiles, when traffic regulations and speed limits had not yet been established. Technology has advanced so rapidly that the social principles and safeguards necessary for its responsible use have not yet been fully developed.
Unlike previous major technological innovations, artificial intelligence may also be transforming an even more fundamental aspect of human life: interpersonal relationships. David Rock says that artificial intelligence is affecting people's natural ability to establish relationships with others. While television, books and smartphones competed for human attention, artificial intelligence is now also attempting to replace human relationships. Increasing numbers of people are turning to catboats not only for information but also for conversation, companionship and advice.
He describes this trend as deeply concerning. According to him, people who spend more time with AI-based virtual companions may experience even greater feelings of loneliness. The human brain evolved in an environment characterised by relationships and social interaction with other people. If machines begin replacing these interactions, there could be a psychological cost whose effects society has yet to fully understand. As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced and robotics, high-speed computing and modern internet technologies become increasingly interconnected, these questions will become even more important.
An interesting paradox is that the more capabilities machines acquire, the more important human relationships may become. David Rock believes that trust, sincerity and genuine human connections will become exceptionally valuable in the future. In a world where machines can generate content, analyse data and even imitate human conversations, our natural human qualities may become more valuable than ever. He says that the value of human experience and emotions will increase significantly in the future. Rather than replacing human beings, artificial intelligence may ultimately increase the importance of human connections, meaningful relationships and genuine cooperation. This future is not inevitable, but it is certainly one possible path in a rapidly changing world.
According to David Rock, the pace of change is set to accelerate further. It has never been this fast before, and it may never be this slow again. This raises an important question: How can human beings adapt to this changing world? According to David Rock, the answer lies in a fundamental concept known as metacognition. It means reflecting on one's own thinking — understanding how we think and how we make decisions. He says that rather than allowing artificial intelligence to dominate our thinking, humans should maintain control over it. Instead of making AI a substitute for our own thought processes, we should use it to broaden and improve our perspectives. The future may depend not on how intelligent artificial intelligence becomes, but on whether human beings continue to use their own intelligence.
