Shaping the AI Age: Human-Centric Engineering, Enlightened Leadership and Sustainable Business
From Modernizing Code to Unlocking Consciousness: Insights for a Future Where Humanity Leads Innovation.
When I stepped out of Science and Technology Building and made my way past the library, I saw Dr. Shurecraft descend the steps of the library. I nodded and said hello. She did the same. I quickened my steps to sync pace with her. The question still lingered in my head, as it always did.
“What is the connection between humanities and engineering, Dr. Shurecraft?”
As soon as it popped, the question felt awkward. It had come without a preamble or preparation. I should have probably said “May I ask you a question?” But we had only a few hundred steps to go before we reached the humanities building, and I did not want to miss the chance to ask my question. I was relieved to notice that Dr. Shurecraft did not look bothered with my inquiry.
As we got to the first of the double doors to Humanities Building, which I held open for her, she looked at me and said, "Mars."
“Mars.” I repeated. I stepped in after her and held the second door open.
“What would happen if we all moved to Mars? Do we take all our technology with us?"
Once inside the building, she picked up the pace. We were both running a couple of minutes behind. I scrambled to close the gap.
“Some of it, maybe," I threw out the first thing that popped in my head, a filler. My answer did not matter. I just wanted the conversation to continue.
“But not all of it. We will have to leave the electric grid behind. Most of the automobiles. The Transatlantic Telegraph Cable. The Internet. Who would be using all that technology left behind?”
That's when it hit me. I stopped in my tracks. Dr. Shurecraft kept walking. Just as she opened the door to the classroom we were aiming to enter, she glanced at me. As she saw the look on my face, a satisfied smile lit up her face. She knew she had hit her target. Her work was done.
That's when it hit me. I stopped in my tracks.
I walked past the door she had held open for me. I had to confirm what I thought I had learned. “It's made for humans. All this tech would not have any meaning to it if it were not meant for humanity.”
Without saying a word, she turned towards the front of the classroom and started erasing the blackboard.
I found an empty bench in the classroom and sat down, trying to put words to the insight I had just had. The machines were -- engineering was -- supposed to serve humanity, not the other way around. If we took the entire humanity and transferred it to another planet, all the technologies we have built here on earth would have no use, no purpose.
The curriculum authors knew what they were doing. They wanted us to appreciate the human side of things. They wanted us to understand that the reason for engineering solutions was to solve human problems.
~
When I went to college, I was a weird kid. Even for an engineering student, most of whom were not concerned with what most of the “normal” people were preoccupied with, I was different.
I majored in Electrical Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology. As part of our studies, we were required to take some humanities courses. In these courses, we studied subjects like World History, Psychology, Philosophy, Religions of the World and Political Science.
Often, on my way over from one building to the next, I would try to figure out the connection between these two worlds: technology and humanity.
Most engineering students hated having to take humanities classes. They only wanted to study the cool engineering stuff. Unlike them, however, I loved the humanities courses just as much as the engineering courses.
On a typical day on the campus, I would be sitting in a class called Electromechanical Control Systems or Probability and Statistics. Then at the end of that class, I would walk over to the Humanities Building and take a class such as American Political System or Philosophies of John Locke and Thomas Jefferson.
Often, on my way over from one building to the next, I would try to figure out the connection between these two worlds: technology and humanity. I was fascinated by both almost equally, although if you pressured me to pick one, I would pick the humanities.
What Comes First: Humanity or Technology?
A simple insight that seems so common-sense in the hindsight is that technology is there to serve humanity, not the other way around. This simple idea is often forgotten when a new technological revolution like Artificial Intelligence takes the world by storm.
If technology serves no purpose without humanity, we can also argue that businesses are meaningless without the people they serve. A business, at their core, exists to solve human problems or fulfill human needs.
And even if we laid off most of our employees in our business, we will still have to manage some people. If we get to a point where we don’t need to manage any employees and run a mega-billion-dollar business solo like some YouTube AI Gurus have us believe, you still have to manage at least one human being, yourself.
However, the integrating AI into business is not solely a technical challenge; it profoundly interacts with the human elements of an organization.
There is a connection between humanities, engineering, artificial intelligence and business management.
The humanities, with their focus on understanding the human experience, provide crucial insights into the why behind engineering efforts and business ventures. They help us define the problems that need solving and understand the human context in which solutions work. Engineering then provides the tools and methods to build these solutions.
Business management is the discipline that organizes resources, including engineering efforts and technological tools like AI, to deliver these solutions effectively and sustainably to people.
Artificial Intelligence is a transformative force, much like previous technological revolutions such as the printing press or the internet. Its application in business is widespread, from automating tasks like code refactoring and analysis to potentially reshaping entire industries.
However, integrating AI into business is not solely a technical challenge; it profoundly interacts with the human elements of an organization.
Case Story #1: Blending AI Innovation with Human-Centric Business Practices
A Conversation with Jonathan Schneider, CEO and Co-Founder, Moderne
Consider Moderne, a platform that leverages AI for auto-refactoring and analyzing large codebases.
Jonathan Schneider, CEO of Moderne, discusses the role of AI in software development, particularly its use in helping to write new code "recipes" faster. Yet, he expresses caution about letting AI directly mutate code due to the potential for "hallucination" or errors. This highlights the crucial need for human oversight and direction even in highly automated processes.
According to Jonathan, the “intellectual property of many businesses lies in their code”, and ensuring its integrity requires careful human guidance.
"You really have to feel compelled, I think, to bring something into being." ~ Jonathan Schneider, CEO and Co-Founder, Moderne
The human factor is also crucial in how businesses are led and structured, especially in a tech landscape which is increasingly reliant on AI. The "freedom and responsibility" culture at Netflix, which influenced Jonathan, emphasizes trusting highly skilled individuals to make decisions. This approach requires “lean teams of experienced professionals” who can operate autonomously.
Building a successful company culture, as discussed in relation to Moderne, involves establishing a clear identity and values early on, practicing humility, and having fierce resolve to make products work for customers. It's about hiring senior talent by reducing the perception of risk and finding individuals who fit the team dynamic naturally.
Watch my full conversation with Jonathan Schneider below for deeper insights.
Case Story #2: Heart-Centered Leadership and the Human Core of Sustainable Organizations
A Conversation with Bruce Kasanoff, Executive Coach and Author
Beyond organizational structure, one way to explore the nature of leadership is through the lens of "heart-centered leadership".
This approach, championed by Bruce Kasanoff, emphasizes “connecting deeply with emotions and leading with love and passion rather than fear”. This involves self-awareness, understanding motivations, and nurturing a culture of empowerment and positivity.
"It's the ability to be in touch with your emotions, to be able to process your emotions, and to feel as opposed to just think." ~ Bruce Kasanoff, Author and Executive Coach
Leading with heart, though challenging, involves balancing personal values with business needs and embracing vulnerability. It is about controlling one's state of being and approaching the world with love and abundance.
These human-centric aspects of business leadership and culture are essential for creating "high-performing, self-sustaining and scalable" organizations.
Perhaps a take-away from this conversation is that a business cannot truly flourish sustainably without “true human intelligence and heart at its core”.
But don’t let me tell you what to take away from a conversation as deep and raw as this. Watch the conversation below draw your own lessons.
The Enigma of AI Consciousness: An Upcoming Video Exploration
Exploring Diverse Perspectives, Including Nobel Laureates and Leading Scientific and Philosophical Minds, on AI's Cognitive Frontiers.
As we navigate the implications of AI, questions about its nature inevitably arise.
Can AI truly be intelligent, conscious or sentient?
One expert argues that AI, even generative AI, is not intelligent in the human sense of conscious thinking; it processes data from memory. This ongoing debate is crucial to understanding the relationship between humans and AI.
To explore these profound questions about AI consciousness, I am in the process of creating a video.
This video will offer a more fleshed-out discussion, drawing from multiple resources to explore whether or not artificial intelligence possesses consciousness.
One expert argues that AI, even generative AI, is not intelligent in the human sense of conscious thinking; it processes data from memory.
It will include perspectives from two Nobel laureates, my own commentary, a few other references, and a secret, most important person with a deeply scientific opinion.
This exploration is a continuation of the conversation about the nature of AI and its place in a world where technology, engineering, business and humanity are intricately connected.
If there are specific topics or questions you would like me to address in this video, please DM them to me.
‘Till next time,
Bhavesh.