To be human is to be part of a species that isn’t A.I.
A.I. & Human Connection
To be human is to be part of a species that can do both good and bad. Regardless of our actions, one thing remains constant: we need connection.
In recent weeks, three leading Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) companies have announced significant product updates, including Google’s Gemini, OpenAI’s Chat GPT GPT-4o, and Anthropic’s Claude 3.
The CEO of OpenAI humorously hinted that the Chat GPT upgrade was reminiscent of the digital companion in the movie “Her.” I haven’t watched the film, but I know it involves a leading character with an A.I. companion.
But something is missing in the A.I. conversation.
To Be a Human Being
To be human, you must have connections on some level. And no, I’m not talking about LinkedIn connections.
Who are the people you genuinely want to spend time with versus those you think you’re supposed to spend time with?
When was the last time you intentionally made a phone call or an in-person meetup with the people on your list?
According to the World Health Organization, a lack of connection can increase anxiety and cardiovascular disease by 30%.
For founders and entrepreneurs, this is even more critical to health and the state of our business.
In a pre-pandemic my research study from 2019, I found that underestimated founders reported “Time with friends and family” as their top mental wealth-building practice. For context, among the 179 respondents (26 from the U.K. and 153 from the USA), the majority self-identified as Black women.
Don’t get me wrong. I see the benefits of A.I. and how it can help. However, I challenge you to use it to free up time for relaxation, rest, and meaningful connections. You could use A.I. to create travel itineraries, plan game nights, and more.
How are you using A.I. in your life?
Are You Aware?
Technology is meant to connect us but can also harm us, but only if we let it.
The Norwegian government recently concluded banning mobile devices in classrooms could benefit students. They commissioned a study by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and found:
- A 60% reduction in consultations for psychological symptoms and diseases
- A 46% reduction in bullying for girls (43% for boys)
- Improved GPAs and chances of girls enrolling in academic-oriented high schools
- Increased academic benefits for economically disadvantaged girls
If this is the case for children, what would the impact be on adults if businesses limited the use of mobile phones?
I understand that teams need mobile phones for numerous reasons, but it’s worth considering and experimenting. How would it impact mental and physical health, productivity, profit, and more?
Until Next Time…
What are 1-3 life or work challenges negatively impacting your mental health?
When you reply, it’s actually me responding to messages 🙂
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Are You Aware? is a newsletter by Anthony Ware. For now, this is a weekly collection of news, insights and research on business, mental wealth, research, and culture.
This newsletter will evolve based on Anthony’s work and regular feedback from you, the readers who invest part of your week to read each new article.