A Blueprint to Shaping Humanity's Future with Al

This week on the Humanity Code Podcast, I had the privilege of visiting with Rob Nail, former CEO of Singularity University and current Strategic Advisor for technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship at the Nomura-SRI-Innovation Center helping companies and corporations get more comfortable with incorporating new technologies into their businesses. His experience from founding a robotics firm for cancer research to serving on influential boards like Harman International during its $8 billion Samsung acquisition demonstrates his deep understanding of how transformative technologies can be harnessed for positive impact. Today, he is also a venture partner at Lionheart Ventures, shaping the investment decisions that optimize AI's role in human development and our collective future. In our conversation, we explored the possible answers to the question: How Do We Ensure AI Serves Humanity's Highest Potential? While we all have some fears when it comes to AI entering our lives and the workforce, when we look to the future with hope, we can better understand how AI can help us further develop as humans. The Evolution of AI Acceptance Around 2009-2010, Rob encountered a lot of skepticism about the value of AI. When he interacted with major corporations like Coca-Cola, executives doubted AT could play a meaningful role in the future, some thinking the idea was nonsense. A few years later, those same companies can see he was on the right track. Beginning in November 2022, the power and potential of artificial intelligence has been expanded as Generative AI was introduced – allowing AI to be used by almost anyone in a larger variety of spheres. We as a species are going to face mind-boggling changes, so we will need clear visions and goals, aligned with our best interests, to take us where we want humanity to go. Building That Collective Vision AI will magnify our efforts and aspirations, for better or for worse. For all the negativity towards AI, there is also a lot of hype. While Hollywood feeds us scenarios of robot apocalypses and terminator-like futures, business media promote its ability to grant us magical superpowers in mundane tasks like writing emails and code. The reality could be far more meaningful and positive. Nail points out that the real concern isn't about AI taking over, but rather about the current systems and incentives driving its development. The infrastructure and motivations behind AI advancement often prioritize corporate profits over human flourishing, creating a disconnect between technology's potential and its more practical and educational uses. Learning From The Past One of the ways we can plan for a future with AI helping us reach new levels of human potential is, as Rob points out, learning from the past and our nation’s experiences with new technologies. A great example of this is The Voyager Record. When putting this record together, NASA was faced with the question of: what message best represents humanity? When navigating our imminent future with AI it is indeed important to understand what makes us uniquely human. Our ability to connect, create, and cultivate new experiences with the world around us means we can use AI for self-advancement. Distinctly human qualities shouldn't be seen as competing with AI, but as areas where human-AI partnership can enhance our natural strengths. Think: the empathic power of a human nurse powered by AI’s vast medical knowledge and data. This lens helps set realistic expectations for what AI can do and what humans should continue to do. The transition period we're currently in requires careful navigation. It's not enough to simply wait and see what happens; we need to actively shape the direction of AI development while putting our humanity first. Redefining Human Work and Purpose Rob introduces us to the endeavors we “get” to do more of when AI can pick up the tedious tasks we aren’t innately built for. He calls this the Three E's Framework: Empathy: This involves the actions humans do with other humans. While a doctor's job could easily be taken over by AI, the nurse’s job and bedside manner are essential to curating a connection with someone –To help them know they are safe, or be compassionate in a trying time. Entertainment: This refers to humanity’s ability to be creative – whether in art, music, dance, theater, storytelling, or simply how we navigate the world. We thrive when we are being creative. AI can enhance that creativity, sure, but by picking up the non-creative work AI can put us in our “zone.” Exploration: This has to do with physical explorations of the earth and space, but also theological exploration. Tackling questions like, is there a God, and are we alone in the universe? We are great at this. And the more we have time to ponder the deep questions, the better we can shape our human experience with AI. As we move beyond efficiency-driven tasks, we will be able to further develop as humans. Human elements when partnered with technology, like paying bills and figuring out the technical side of things, allow us to have time to pursue our dreams and aspirations. Shifting our focus from jobs to meaningful endeavors will help us have a bigger, better impact on the world. When looking at the potential that exists there, we can see the partnership between humans and AI as a positive and exciting step into the future. Navigating the Transition Period Rob pointed out humans do not feel inclined to change unless we see something better. When we see that a future of abundance is possible and credible, we want to believe in that future. This will help us extinguish the fear.. On our way to a collective vision, Rob reminded us about the institutional challenges like organizational resistance to an uncharted vision – whether it’s pressure from investors, expectations from younger “digital natives” who also see it coming, or the intransigence of middle management. By making the vision accessible to all three of these groups, and others, the emotional drive will accelerate acceptance and action. The role of AI in this process could be particularly powerful. Rather than seeing AI as a replacement for human decision-making, we can use it as a tool to help synthesize and integrate diverse perspectives, making our collective visioning process more inclusive and comprehensive. Building Towards the Future How do we guide and usher in these inevitable changes and new technologies so they don’t pose a risk, let alone an existential risk. Developing this reality requires rethinking traditional notions of work and productivity. Instead of viewing AI as a threat to jobs, we can see it as a tool that frees humans to focus on more of what they want to work on. This shift has the potential to lead to a future where technology handles the "bottom of Maslow's hierarchy," allowing humans to focus on higher-level needs and aspirations. Rob shared that the potential for AI to be used as a personal growth assistant is particularly exciting. Imagine AI agents that help curate learning experiences, guide personal development, and support our journey toward becoming better humans - not by replacing human interaction, but by facilitating more meaningful connections and experiences that are available to everyone. We are already at a point where the development of AI agents are aligning with human interests. So take some time today or later this week to visualize what your best future could look like. Then ask yourself, is this the best I can imagine? And how can AI help? Let this vision be your guide as you continue to write your humanity code. Thanks for joining us as we learn more about our role in shaping the future of AI. To listen to the podcast with Rob, find it on Spotify and Apple, or watch it on YouTube. If you’re interested in learning more about the topics talked about in this blog, please visit TheHumanityCode.ai