Are we on the verge of a major paradigm shift in the way we think about intelligence?
With technology advancing at an exponential pace, it’s becoming clear that artificial intelligence is on the cusp of surpassing human intelligence. This means that we’re about to enter a new era in which emotional intelligence (EQ) will be more important than raw intelligence (IQ).
We all see it; technology is advancing at an exponential pace. We are seeing faster computers processing massive amounts of labeled data enabling generative artificial intelligence that allows us to access and utilize almost all information and knowledge on the planet to gain insights, make decisions, and to take action.
We are entering a point in history where artificial intelligence will exceed human intelligence. When this happens, we will find that EQ is more important than IQ in almost every aspect of business, academia, and government.
Before the internet, Sir Francis Bacon was right, “knowledge is power,” but after the internet, where almost all human knowledge is accessible to almost every person on Earth, we find that Albert Einstein is right, “imagination is more important than knowledge.” With the advent of generative artificial intelligence that statement gains even greater relevance.
What makes us uniquely human becomes more important when artificial intelligence has an IQ that is orders of magnitude greater than all of humanity. Human characteristics such as empathy, compassion, and love, become ever more important. Also uniquely human are self-awareness, cultural awareness, and diversity. As well as adaptability, creativity, and innovation.
Once artificial intelligence exceeds human intelligence, EQ will become more important than IQ, and human skills rooted in the “4 new Es” of EQ, these being empathy, ethics, envisioning, and entrepreneurship. All of which will become more important than raw knowledge and intelligence in leadership at all levels of society.
EQ rooted in empathy is the ability to understand and share our feelings and understand the feelings of others. In a world where AI is advancing rapidly, the ability to empathize with others and understand their emotions will be increasingly valuable in every aspect of human interaction. While machines can learn how to interact with humans on a basic level, they cannot replace the emotional intelligence of humans.
Empathetic intelligence involves understanding and managing one’s own emotions, as well as recognizing and responding to others’ emotions. As AI becomes more advanced, individuals who can provide a human touch to customer service, healthcare, and other industries will become increasingly valuable.
We will also see the increasing importance of ethics in the development of technology that benefits society while simultaneously ensuring that we mitigate the risks of these technologies, not only with artificial intelligence, but with advanced robotics, genetics, and nanotechnology.
In a world where AI can process vast amounts of data and make decisions at lightning speed, it will be essential to have ethical considerations and values to guide decision-making. As machines continue to learn and create on their own, ethical considerations will become increasingly important. Without ethical intelligence, AI can be misused or even become dangerous.
For example, facial recognition technology can be used for surveillance, which can infringe on individuals’ privacy rights. Therefore, individuals who possess ethical intelligence will become increasingly valuable in the workforce.
We will also see an increase in the importance of envisioning a better future for every person on Earth. Envisioning is the ability to imagine and visualize possibilities for the future. As AI becomes more capable of processing data and generating insights, the ability to envision and create innovative solutions will become increasingly important.
In today’s world, where all knowledge is accessible, individuals who can envision the future and create new possibilities will be valuable. Envisioning intelligence involves imagining what could be and developing a roadmap to get there. It involves creativity, imagination, and an ability to think beyond the status quo. As AI becomes more advanced, individuals who possess envisioning intelligence will be critical to developing and implementing new technologies and solutions.
Lastly, the ability to produce sustainable organizations that balance the well-being of the planet, people, and prosperity will be essential to the welfare of current and future generations. Entrepreneurship is the ability to identify opportunities, take risks, and innovate.
In a world where AI can do many tasks more efficiently than humans, entrepreneurship will become a valuable skill that involves identifying areas where human creativity and innovation can add value. One such area is “humanity-centric innovation,” which is about solving the greatest problems facing humanity in an economically viable way.
As AI continues to advance and surpass all of human intelligence, EQ skills like empathy, ethics, envisioning, and entrepreneurship will become ever more important and will exceed the importance of raw intelligence and knowledge. These human skills are what make us uniquely human and will be crucial in a future where AI is increasingly present in our daily lives. So, are you ready to evolve and embrace the rise of EQ in the age of artificial intelligence?
Are you passionate or nervous about where AI could take humanity? Drop me a line: hightechheroes1@gmail.com
In an AI World, EQ is more important than IQ
