People often overestimate the immediate impact of emerging trends while underestimating their long-term effects. This is particularly evident in the swift rise of Artificial Intelligence. The dawn of the AI era is upon us, and it brings with it a transformative wave that will redefine success as well as the skills necessary to achieve success. The responsibility to prepare the next generation for success in the age of AI is top of mind for many parents. Indeed, failure to do so risks leaving our progeny ill-prepared to capitalize on this transformative opportunity.
The stakes are high: a recent study by PwC estimates that AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030 (PwC). More immediately, over the next 12 months, 43% of U.S. companies with $1 billion or more in annual revenue expect to invest at least $100 million in generative AI, according to a survey published this month by KPMG (WSJ).
For our kids, AI’s potential to usher in a new age of productivity also means that the skills required for success in the future will look very different than in the past. For instance, AI allows a computer system to understand natural human language (rather than specialized code) to accomplish an array of creative and analytical tasks — writing reports, analyzing data, even generating software code. Many tasks are suddenly getting commoditized, while new skills such as prompt engineering (which is about giving the best possible instructions to an AI system to achieve the desired results) are commanding a premium (NYT).
Cultivating Minds Ready for the Future
By cultivating the right skills and mindset in our children and grandchildren, we can empower them to hone the skills that will enable them to capitalize on the vast opportunities that AI presents. Here are some key areas of focus:
Adaptability & Perseverance: We are seeing a landscape of rapid change and unprecedented opportunity. In this fluid environment, adaptability and a commitment to lifelong learning become paramount for our children’s success. We must foster a family culture that embraces “failing forward” – an ethos that encourages our kids to fearlessly explore, experiment, and learn from their failures. By nurturing an environment where setbacks are treated as stepping stones, we equip our children with the resilience and perseverance to bounce back stronger than before.
We should instill in our children the mental fortitude that will enable them to pivot seamlessly, seizing new opportunities as they arise and continually evolving their skill sets to stay ahead of the curve. In this era where change is the only constant, adaptability will be the cornerstone of their success, enabling them to thrive amidst constant change and unlock their full potential.
Curiosity & Optimism: The traditional educational model of rote memorization and specialized expertise is outdated. The media has been very focused on potential cheating with tools like ChatGPT, but the more crucial issue lies in recognizing the limitations of traditional teaching systems.
While basic knowledge remains valuable, merely possessing information is insufficient. Even highly specialized skills like coding and legal are becoming much easier with AI assistance. Instead, the right education modes for the future will need to be interdisciplinary and focused on curiosity and actively promoting imaginative play.
Students who are curious and optimistic will be ready to learn about new advancements and orchestrate new AI innovations into solutions. As Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, aptly stated, “The true scarce commodity is increasingly human ingenuity and creativity – the ability to define ambitions that show the full power of human imagination.”
A doctor may soon need to collaborate with a machine learning engineer to tailor personalized therapies, and a detective who has both traditional police skills and computer vision expertise could be vital to unpacking a forensic mystery. For all their capabilities, today’s AIs are specialized, and adaptable learning remains a human trait.
Creativity & Emotional Intelligence: AI won’t just be a new application to learn like Microsoft Office. We think it will become the native language of creativity, labor, social and economic integration. Mastery of digital realms and the responsible development and implementation of their enabling technologies will be as foundational as literacy and arithmetic were for the prior generations.
While AI excels in procedural tasks, human creativity and emotional intelligence (EI) are irreplaceable. Consider the success of countless entrepreneurs and innovators who have leveraged creativity and EI to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and connect with customers and stakeholders on a level that AI cannot replicate.
Orchestrating a World of Computers and Humans: In this era of human-machine collaboration, our children and grandchildren will need to become adept at orchestrating the interplay between humans and AI systems. They will need to possess the ability to communicate seamlessly with both computers and humans, understanding the strengths and limitations of each. By serving as the bridge between these two worlds, they can effectively harness the power of AI while leveraging the unique capabilities of human intelligence. This role of an ‘orchestrator’ will be crucial in driving innovation, solving complex problems, and achieving synergy between technological advancements and human ingenuity.
As Omega’s Thomas Malone puts it, the future is “‘computers in the group’ not ‘humans in the loop’.”
Leadership: The leaders of tomorrow will need to understand AI’s potential and limitations, making strategic decisions that consider both moral implications and context. With AI automating routine tasks and providing vast amounts of data for analysis, human decision-making is pushed towards handling more nuanced scenarios that require judgment, common sense, collaboration, and critical thinking.
Our children will need the ability to synthesize information from diverse sources and think critically to separate the salient from the suspect. For instance, advances to AI video generation now means anybody can generate realistic looking deepfakes and publish them widely. We used to be able to rely on videos and eyewitness accounts, but our future generations will grow up with a much keener need to critically discern fake from real.
We believe effective leadership in the AI era places greater emphasis on qualities such as empathy, communication, and adaptability. Children must learn to lead by example, empower and inspire others, communicate effectively, have a point of view, and be willing to listen (but listen with discernment) to diverse perspectives in order to achieve their goals – all while seeking to leverage the best of human and machine intelligence to their benefit.
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Leveraging Our Experience as Parents and Grandparents
As the generation that has witnessed the birth and rapid evolution of AI, we possess a unique perspective and wealth of experience that can guide the next generation in navigating this transformative era. Our role extends beyond merely imparting knowledge; it is about imparting our collective wisdom to shape a future where AI augments and amplifies human potential.
Augmentation, Not Replacement
For starters, we should recognize that AI will not lead to obsolescence of human experience and knowledge. Its role lies in enhancing existing capabilities, streamlining tasks, and unlocking new time to be focused on innovation and uniquely human pursuits. Furthermore, AI can help bridge the generational gap by facilitating knowledge transfer from experienced professionals to younger counterparts, ensuring that valuable insights and expertise are preserved and passed on to future generations.
And learning is not ‘done’ for anyone. AI can serve as a mentor and a learning companion for all of us, facilitating continuous professional development and skill enhancement. Through AI-powered platforms and virtual assistants, we can all access personalized learning resources, stay updated on industry trends, and receive feedback on our performance much more easily and comprehensively than ever before. A good example of this is Omega’s internal ACE (Automation and Collaboration Engine) platform that our team leverages daily for continuous learning and development, with personalized, AI-powered insights tailored for each team member.
Ethical Stewardship and AI
The responsibility of the current generation to be aware of ethical AI cannot be overstated. As we witness the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, it is evident that the decisions we make today will shape the future of humanity. Ethical considerations must be at the forefront of AI development to ensure that these technologies benefit society as a whole. This entails not only creating AI systems that are technically proficient but also ones that adhere to principles of fairness, transparency, trust, accountability, and alignment with our societal values.
The development of ethical AI requires collaboration across various sectors and disciplines. It is not just the responsibility of technologists or policymakers but a collective effort involving all of us. Together, we all have a role in helping establish guidelines and frameworks that will govern the design, deployment, and use of AI systems. By recognizing the importance of ethics in AI development, we can mitigate potential harms and maximize the positive impact of these technologies on individuals, communities, and the world at large.
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Conclusion: A Legacy of Empowerment
They say it takes a village to raise a child. But in the coming decades, it will take the foresight of an entire generation to plan for and raise the next generations that will steer humanity’s destiny.
We all have the opportunity to leave a legacy — a legacy of empowerment that equips the next generation with the tools and mindset to thrive in the AI age. Together, we can shape a future where artificial intelligence augments and enhances the potential for our progeny and elevates them to new rungs of success.
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