AI vs. EI

Though tools and businesses enabling AI (Artificial Intelligence) have fueled remarkable growth in the stock market and offered a tech revolution, these same entities have also wreaked havoc on our collective psyche. Not only has AI shifted the outlook for the workforce, it has added uncertainty for new college graduates, struck fear in the hearts of our citizenry, and caused many to question whether anything found online is “real”. 

Even for AI proponents who see it as a revolutionary tool, honest observers know it has a sinister side: the huge use of natural resources required to power data centers and fuel each search. Moreover, an obvious question remains: will these tools dumb-down our society and limit the value of education for our children? Add in concerns over privacy, transparency, bias, misinformation, and security, no wonder it causes existential dread.

In the AI debate, I feel we may be missing the bigger picture. No matter where AI takes us, I wonder if humans should focus on the thing we do best: EI (Emotional Intelligence). AI cannot heal human suffering, mend an aching heart, or listen with genuine compassion. EI does NOT come at a huge cost, does NOT limit our children’s ability to learn, and does NOT pose a threat to the workforce. EI may be just the antidote we need for the growing artificiality of our world, online and otherwise. 

When my husband died six years ago this month, those who offered support and kindness helped me to go on living. Indeed, I believe EI is the most essential human skill. If we receive it when we are young in the nascent stages of forming an attachment style, it stays with us throughout our lives. If we miss this critical window or suffer abuse by our caregivers, we may never reach our full potential. Though we can work to heal our attachment style, would we not be better served by shifting our focus to creating humans capable of loving and healthy relationships from the start? Ultimately, love begets love. I like to imagine a world where we shift our energy toward EI, helping us find healing and higher love for the betterment of all.