On Human Intelligences in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Nowadays, the hottest topic everywhere, including in project management writings and conferences, is artificial intelligence, its various implementations, and its impact on life and work. Less is said about the role of human intelligences, such as emotional, cultural, ethical, and organizational human intelligences, with the advent of artificial intelligence, how their interaction in leadership evolves, and what changes can be expected in this area in the future.
Human intelligence areas represent adaptability and problem-solving skills, aiming at how to survive and thrive in our incompletely knowable world. Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, attempts to translate various human knowledge into computer systems, trying to algorithmize and support them with computers. However, it is also important to see that today these algorithms are trained on such large databases, often in a self-learning manner, that they become opaque even to the developers, functioning as a kind of “black box.”
With this black-box algorithmic approach, numerous new types of ethical dilemmas can arise in managerial/project management work with the greater application of artificial intelligence, especially if ethical decisions shift from the individual to the organizational level. Such questions may arise, for example, during a conversation with a chatbot or an analysis of a video interview, where artificial intelligence is already capable of evaluating human emotions, often correctly recognizing them and providing appropriate responses and reactions, thereby imitating human feelings. Evaluating this, understanding the decision, comprehending the consequences, and considering these in a broader context requires greater awareness, extra attention, control, and the acquisition of new knowledge in decision-making.
In the natural world, cooperation and competition create new solutions. Similarly, organizations would not be able to achieve their goals without cooperation, and without competition, they would not develop and lack motivation. The ability to formulate organizational strategy is an important human knowledge and skill: determining the right direction at the right time. Artificial intelligence might not provide the ability to be open to new things, but it can assist with data, analyses, and scenario development. However, even in this area, human decision-making and risk-taking are currently indispensable and irreplaceable.
According to generational researchers, our media consumption habits and the spread of characteristic technologies define our shared experience domain, thus setting generational boundaries. Although artificial intelligence has been with us for 70 years and has evolved through many waves of innovation, it now seems that generative solutions imitating human abilities and accessible to the broadest audience represent such a generational boundary. A generation is emerging that is being socialized in the AI age. As project managers and leaders, working with this new generation in the future will require the development of one’s own abilities from all involved. Thus, without cultural intelligence that can handle cultural differences and emotional intelligence that can build trust, managing a new generation team will not be possible.
These examples also show that we must not give up on our human intelligence and its multifaceted individual and organizational development. A leader’s human value system, exemplary behavior, and intelligence determine the motivation and efficiency of project teams and partners. For leaders supported by artificial intelligence, stress management, quick problem-solving, and the ethical and creative, situation-dependent adaptation of the suggested steps based on the large volumes of data processed by AI will become increasingly important capabilities.
The true impact of AI will depend on how consciously we use the technology in our lives, for our projects, and for the benefit of our companies, and consciousness relies on our own abilities, skills, and human intelligence.
/Imre Szalay/
Sources:
- PM Fórum, HTE 2024 – https://www.hte.hu/fooldal/-/esemeny/4906101/26–projektmenedzsment-forum
- Megvan az európai MI-törvény – ITBUSINESS
- Hrpwr – A Z generációnál megszűnik a digitális tér és a valóság közti határvonal
