Humans are Underrated

“What makes us special is not our ability to calculate or process information, but the qualities that make us human: empathy, storytelling, creativity, and connection.”

1. Computers Outpace Humans in Many Cognitive Tasks

Computers have become impressively faster and more powerful due to Moore's law, which states that computing power doubles every two years. From Sony's first transistor radio to Intel's modern processors, the exponential growth of technology is undeniable and often surpasses human capabilities in specific areas.

For example, computers are now better at recognizing human emotions than humans themselves. Using Paul Ekman’s research on micro-expressions, a system known as the Facial Action Coding System has allowed computers to associate specific expressions with emotions more accurately. Thanks to this data, computers can identify human emotions with 85% accuracy compared to a trained human's 55%.

Yet, computers have limits. They excel in narrowly defined tasks, relying on input precision. They lack the deeply intuitive and holistic processing innate to humans that allows for creativity, ethical reasoning, and contextual understanding.

Examples

• Exponential growth in processing power, like Intel processors jumping from 5 transistors to 5 billion.
• Emotion-detection systems surpassing human accuracy.
• Computers’ dependency on structured input data for perfection.

2. The Dark Side of Screens and Social Media

While technology makes life easier, it takes a toll on human connection. Spending excessive time on screens erodes social skills, making it harder to read body language or understand others emotionally.

Research supports this decline. For instance, sixth-graders showed improved emotional understanding after just five days at a screen-free camp. Social media, while seemingly connecting people, often reduces the quality of relationships. Virtual connections lack the depth of in-person interactions and, for some, undermine trust in relationships.

The broader concern is that screen addiction isolates individuals and disconnects them from real-world experiences, eroding the very social abilities that define humanity.

Examples

• Screen-heavy habits reducing social awareness in children.
• Social media users having poorer relationships and higher unhappiness rates.
• A screen-free camp significantly improving emotional understanding.

3. Social Skills Outclass Knowledge in Today’s World

With knowledge stored in computers and at our fingertips, human value is shifting toward social and interpersonal abilities. Fields like law have seen tasks like case research being delegated to computers, yet lawyers still need to connect with clients and emotionally manage complex situations.

Social skills take on even greater weight in an interconnected world where cultural sensitivity is vital. Missteps, like a US Marine unknowingly offending local customs in Iraq in 2004, can have serious consequences. On the flip side, soldiers using culturally respectful body language calmed an angry crowd, demonstrating the transformative power of human connection.

Successful engagement in any field now relies less on sheer information and more on managing human relationships and understanding mutual needs.

Examples

• Lawyers still require emotional rapport with clients despite computers analyzing case data.
• Soldiers using culturally informed gestures defusing hostility in Iraq.
• Increased need for cultural sensitivity in global interactions.

4. Empathy: The Foundation of Human Relationships

Empathy, the ability to understand and share feelings with someone else, is irreplaceable in both personal and professional spheres. Unlike scripts or automated systems, empathy shows care and builds trust.

When Jim Bush revamped American Express's call centers, he removed rigid scripts, empowering employees to engage naturally. This empathetic approach increased customer satisfaction and reduced employee turnover. Empathy is effective because humans innately respond better to genuine interaction than to mechanical efficiency.

Moreover, while computers can replicate responses that mimic compassion, they can’t authentically connect. We prefer empathy from fellow humans because it feels real and sincere.

Examples

• American Express improving profit margins through empathetic call centers.
• Empathetic doctors reassuring patients effectively.
• Humans rejecting computerized empathy as artificial and untrustworthy.

5. Team Dynamics Determine Success

The success of any group depends not just on skill but on harmony and collaboration among members. Teams that prioritize understanding each member's social strengths consistently outperform mismatched teams, even if individuals are highly skilled.

The US Ryder Cup golf team demonstrated this. After years of failure, the coach selected players who complemented each other as teammates rather than just individual stars. This resulted in a decisive victory. Similarly, group synergy fosters innovation and progress in fields like business and science.

Ultimately, fostering team compatibility and ensuring individuals feel valued lead to better long-term collaboration and outcomes.

Examples

• US Ryder Cup team victory based on teamwork over individual excellence.
• Successful collaborative scientific breakthroughs.
• Companies aligning teams with complementary social skills.

6. Stories Matter More Than Facts

Humans are wired for narratives. A powerful story can evoke emotions, change opinions, and inspire action in ways logic and data cannot. People remember stories, not bullet points.

Stephen Denning at the World Bank struggled to convince colleagues to make valuable data accessible through charts and presentations. However, when he shared the story of a Zambian health worker unable to access the information, it initiated significant organizational change. Stories trigger empathy and engagement, making them a uniquely human tool for persuasion.

Computers can generate reports and articles, but their lack of authenticity prevents them from creating stories that resonate deeply with people.

Examples

• Stephen Denning transforming the World Bank’s approach with a simple story.
• Successful advertising campaigns focusing on heartwarming themes.
• Humans craving authenticity in storytelling, rejecting computer-generated narratives.

7. Computer Creativity Has Limits

While computers like IBM's Watson showcase creativity in areas like recipe invention, they lack the random sparks of human innovation that arise through collaboration and conversation.

Watson’s Austrian Chocolate Burrito recipe combined unexpected ingredients and became a festival delight, but true creative breakthroughs often emerge from human interaction. Companies like Google and Pixar capitalize on this by designing spaces that encourage spontaneous encounters among employees, sparking ideas that wouldn’t arise in isolation.

Human creativity thrives on connection, curiosity, and the unpredictability of face-to-face interaction, something machines can’t replicate.

Examples

• IBM’s Watson crafting unexpected recipes.
• Google’s cafeteria fostering collaboration through shared meals.
• Pixar’s headquarters strategically creating interactions.

8. Computers Enhance Learning, Not Connection

Technology can boost knowledge-based learning but struggles in teaching softer skills. For instance, interactive software helped the US Navy train personnel on repairs, while online platforms like MOOCs brought knowledge to millions far beyond classrooms.

In contrast, programs like Love Machine attempt to instill social skills through workplace recognition schemes. By publicly thanking colleagues, employees build mutual respect and collaboration. Though helpful, such tools can’t replace genuine human mentorship and interaction.

Education technology works best when complementing human experiences, not replacing them, to balance knowledge improvement with social development.

Examples

• US Navy using software to teach technical tasks.
• MOOCs like Stanford’s AI course outperforming traditional classrooms.
• Love Machine encouraging gratitude and collaboration at workplaces.

9. Balancing Progress with Connection

As technology evolves, it’s essential to harness its advantages without losing human essence. While computers can improve efficiency and expand access to knowledge, we must also stand guard against their harmful effects on relationships.

By cultivating skills like empathy, storytelling, and teamwork, we counterbalance technology's depersonalization. This alignment between human strengths and technological power ensures progress without sacrificing connection.

Ultimately, our shared humanity, not our knowledge alone, will determine the future.

Examples

• Empathy and storytelling keeping humans irreplaceable in many professions.
• Skill-sharing platforms balancing teamwork with knowledge-based goals.
• Stephen Denning’s World Bank narrative as an example of injecting humanity into change.

Takeaways

1. Dedicate time to face-to-face interactions to cultivate empathy and understanding. Join community activities or simply make more time for personal conversations.
2. Use online platforms to learn both technical and interpersonal skills like leadership, conflict resolution, or public speaking.
3. Limit screen time and engage in settings that improve emotional understanding, such as team sports or volunteering, to counteract technology’s isolating effects.