Smart people say smart things (also me) in Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future new report, “Building a Human Resilience Infrastructure for the AI Age.”

Read entire report here and a bit from me below:

Paul Jones, professor emeritus of information science at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, said, “While Socrates railed against writing and reading, broad access to either wasn’t available for centuries later. Even then, and even after Gutenberg’s printing press it wasn’t until the 19th century that most Americans were readers (and, later still, writers thanks to public schooling). And – even then – large segments of our population remained illiterate through the early 20th century.

“Computer access and literacy came much more quickly. Again, with public schools playing a large part and low-cost mobile phones reaching global populations that had been previously neglected.

“AI, as opposed to other literacies, has immediately become available to everyone – with upgrades delivered almost daily. In fact, one must work hard to avoid being exposed to AI and most of us are – often unknowingly – relying on AI for information and advice.

“With AI, in its many flavors, unavoidable, ‘what can a poor boy do?’ – to quote the Rolling Stones’ 1968 song ‘Street-Fighting Man.’ (Singing in a rock band isn’t an option, especially since amateur musicians are already using AI to compose music to their lyrics and the reverse.) The question is who is using who? And where in the partnership between man and machine does the control live?

“Will we have the autonomy to become more than human, perhaps human centaurs: half rational human and half powerful speedy horse? Or are we just one step away from becoming reverse centaurs, like say Amazon drivers who are instructed at every move by their machine monitors? Their brains belonging to the horse while their bodies remain half human.

“Rereading Norbert Weiner’s insightful and prescient 1950 book ‘The Human Use of Human Beings’ 75 years after its first publication might give some hints. He predicted that machines would release people from relentless and repetitive drudgery, allowing them to achieve more goals in new ways while also warning of the danger of dehumanization and displacement resulting from such tools and systems. I recommend that book to everyone. Those less given to reading might ask your favorite AI for a summary.”