Written by a Human – On Earth
The line between genuine expertise and artificially enhanced know-how is becoming increasingly blurred. Once upon a time years of study, practical experience, and apprenticeships were the only paths to mastering a skill set.
Today, with the power of AI at our fingertips, anyone can seemingly become an “expert” overnight.
This paradigm shift brings forth a new age – the era of the instant expert.
The Rise of Instant Experts
AI tools, like language models, data analysers, art generators are democratising knowledge. Don’t get me wrong, I think this is overbearingly positive. Whether it’s someone wanting to understand the nuances of quantum physics, or a teenager keen on mastering bonsai pruning, AI can guide them every step of the way.
However, it’s not the ease of access to information that creates a challenge. AI not only gives us the information, it can also now carry out the task for you… Ok, it can’t prune your bonsai tree but it can write your high school essay, respond to the detailed email from your boss, even generate realistic images to submit to photo competitions. (and win)
So, how do we distinguish between those who truly understand the nuances and those who merely parrot what AI feeds them? Actually, this is the wrong question, the right question is, do we actually care?
Well keep reading…
The Rise of AI-Powered Personas
Beyond just expertise, AI enables the crafting of entire personas. Someone with no background in a field can, in a matter of a few prompts, leverage AI tools to sound like a seasoned professional, sharing insights, answering queries, and even providing training. They can curate an online presence that reflects a depth of knowledge and experience they haven’t genuinely acquired.
This isn’t limited to the professional realm. Imagine someone using AI tools to pretend they’re a gourmet chef, an art critic, or even a historian, sharing insights and information with confidence, all while being heavily reliant on AI tools. The technology can embolden these personas, making them virtually indistinguishable from genuine experts to the untrained eye.
Why is this a problem?
Erosion of Trust
As more people gain the capability to pose as experts without genuine expertise, it becomes challenging to discern who to trust. This can erode confidence in online platforms, tutorials, and even in personal interactions.
Devaluation of Genuine Expertise
When everyone is an expert, no one is. The value of genuine expertise, built over years of hard work, could be undermined, leading to a societal devaluation of true professionals in various fields.
Potential Misinformation
While AI can provide vast amounts of accurate information, its interpretation and application are crucial. Fake experts might unintentionally or intentionally misguide others, leading to misconceptions and mistakes.
It’s not all bad though – Having access to information, streamlining processes and progressing society should always be celebrated. And I think AI has the ability to do all of those things. It just has to happen right.
Here are some things companies, news outlets, blog pages etc could implement to help prevent the sudden rise of the AI-Powered Persona.
Credential Verification
Platforms can introduce mechanisms to verify the credentials of those claiming expertise, providing an authenticity badge to genuine professionals.
Highlighting AI Assistance
Just as articles and projects sometimes cite sources, individuals could be encouraged or required to disclose when they’ve used AI tools to aid their expertise.
In the age of AI-driven knowledge, the distinction between authenticity and artificiality blurs, challenging our very notion of what it means to be an expert. As we witness the rise of instant experts and AI-powered personas, we must ask ourselves not only how to discern the genuine from the simulated but also whether the source of knowledge matters as much as the knowledge itself.
Perhaps, in this evolving era, the value of expertise lies not solely in its origins but in its ability to contribute positively to our collective understanding and progress as a society.
Now answer me this, Human – Do you care that the email response your employee sent to you was written by a robot?
