An argument for why the story of Terminator and computers taking over isn’t so far-fetched.
Because clearly, a world where humans can’t outsmart their toasters and AI turns into Skynet isn’t far-fetched at all—after all, we’ve done such a stellar job proving how responsible and rational we are with power. Ask any of the species we’ve directly caused to go extinct…oh, wait, you can’t…they’re gone.
We’re living in a pretty wild moment in human history. Technology is evolving at lightning speed, and it’s worth asking: who’s really coming out on top here? Let’s break it down and look at what’s happening on both sides.
Immediate Action vs. Procrastination
I’ll start by admitting how long I have put writing this article off is embarrassing. I can speak first hand about procrastination. But, before you judge, it’s not because I am lazy. I have to prioritize projects and this one, until now, has sat formant in my “idea” list.
Even with my best intentions, AI will get things done without hesitation. It dives into tasks right away, stays focused, and doesn’t get distracted or put things off. Humans, on the other hand, are experts at procrastination. We delay important decisions, avoid responsibilities, and sometimes wait until it’s too late to act.
Whether it’s fear, doubt, or just plain laziness, or, in my case, time restraints, this habit often leads to missed opportunities, unnecessary stress, and a pile of unfinished work. While AI keeps moving forward, humans tend to get stuck in a loop of putting things off and then scrambling to catch up.
It’s a clear difference in how we handle problems and manage time, and it shows why AI is so much better at staying productive.
AI Is on the Rise: Humanity on the Decline
AI has come a long way in just a few years. Think about it: we’ve got voice assistants that can hold conversations, algorithms that predict stock market trends, and tools that are woven into our everyday routines. It’s not just about convenience anymore—AI is tackling problems we used to think only humans could handle.
The secret sauce behind AI’s success? Machine learning and deep learning. These methods let computers sift through massive amounts of data, spot patterns, and make decisions with impressive accuracy. That’s why AI can now do things like:
- Diagnose diseases more accurately than some doctors
- Create art and music that’s surprisingly good
- Beat humans at games like chess and Go
Some experts even believe we’re close to reaching artificial general intelligence (AGI)—a kind of AI that’s as smart as humans across the board. Whether that’s exciting or terrifying depends on how you look at it.
A Battle of Logic, Emotion, and Progress Over the Planet
AI and humans tackle environmental issues in completely different ways. AI focuses on solving problems. It analyzes huge amounts of data, predicts environmental changes, and optimizes energy use with incredible accuracy. It’s already helping us create smarter renewable energy systems, cut down on waste, and manage resources more efficiently. AI doesn’t get caught up in politics, emotions, or personal agendas—it just does the work.
Humans, on the other hand, often let emotions and self-interest take over. Politicians, motivated by money or short-term gains, ignore science and delay real action. People tend to follow these leaders, choosing convenience or outdated habits instead of thinking about the future. This is where the difference becomes clear: AI pushes forward with solutions, while humans often make choices that harm the planet, held back by biases, misinformation, or resistance to change.
Humans and “Natural Stupidity”
While AI keeps leveling up, humans seem to be stuck in a loop of making bad decisions. It’s not that people are dumb—it’s just that we often act in ways that don’t make sense. For example:
- Falling for scams or conspiracy theories
- Believing political figures are untouchable and shouldn’t be criticized while simultaneously voting against your own interests
- Ignoring science on big issues like climate change and medical research for vaccines
- Making bad financial choices even when we know better
A lot of this comes down to how our brains are wired. We rely on mental shortcuts, or biases, that can lead us astray. Some of the biggest culprits are:
- Confirmation bias: Only paying attention to things that support what we already believe
- Dunning-Kruger effect: Overestimating how smart or skilled we are
- Sunk cost fallacy: Sticking with something just because we’ve already put time or money into it
There’s endless information at our fingertips but these biases can get us into even more trouble. It’s easy to find “proof” for just about any idea, no matter how wrong it is. All you have to do is ignore the facts.
Where AI and Humans Clash
If you look at the back-and-forth between AI and humanity, a few key battlegrounds stand out:
- Decision Making: AI is often better at making decisions because it can analyze tons of data without getting emotional or biased. But humans still have the edge when it comes to gut instincts, empathy, and ethical calls.
- Information Processing: AI is unbeatable at crunching numbers and processing information fast. Humans, on the other hand, are easily overwhelmed by too much info and can fall for fake news.
- Creativity: Sure, AI can create art, music, and even writing, but human creativity is still king. We’re better at thinking outside the box and coming up with ideas no one saw coming.
- Emotional Intelligence: This is one area where humans win hands down. AI might be able to detect emotions, but it doesn’t truly understand them or feel empathy the way we do.
What This Means for Us, As Humans
The tug-of-war between AI and human shortcomings has some big implications for society:
- Learning and Skills: As AI gets smarter, we need to focus on developing skills it can’t replicate. Creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence are areas where humans shine.
- Ethics: The more we rely on AI to make decisions, the more we need to think about the ethical side of things. How do we make sure AI is fair, transparent, and doesn’t harm people?
- Mental Health: Our tendency to fall for misinformation and make irrational decisions highlights the need for better education in critical thinking—and maybe some extra support for mental health.
Working Together Instead of Competing
It’s tempting to see AI and human intelligence as rivals, but the truth is, the future will be better if we work together. AI can handle the heavy lifting when it comes to data and logic, while humans bring creativity, empathy, and ethics to the table.
Here’s how we can make that happen:
- Use AI to help us make better decisions, not replace us entirely.
- Teach people skills that complement AI, like emotional intelligence and creative problem-solving.
- Design AI systems that are fair, transparent, and aligned with human values.
- Promote digital literacy to help people spot misinformation and think critically.
Can AI ever surpass human stupidity in terms of complexity
The question of whether AI can surpass human stupidity in terms of complexity is a nuanced and evolving topic. While AI has made significant strides in recent years, the comparison with human stupidity is not straightforward.
AI’s Rapid Progress
Artificial intelligence has shown remarkable advancements in various domains:
- Image and Speech Recognition: AI systems have surpassed human performance in tasks like image classification and speech recognition^1.
- Complex Problem Solving: AI can now solve complex math problems and answer challenging questions about biology, physics, and chemistry faster than human experts^3.
- Game Playing: AI has achieved superhuman performance in games like chess and Go^2.
These achievements demonstrate AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data and make complex decisions quickly and accurately.
The Nature of Human Stupidity
Human stupidity, on the other hand, is a complex phenomenon rooted in various factors:
- Cognitive Biases: Humans are prone to cognitive biases like confirmation bias and the Dunning-Kruger effect, which can lead to irrational decisions^2.
- Emotional Factors: Human decision-making is often influenced by emotions, leading to choices that may seem “stupid” from a purely logical standpoint.
- Contextual Understanding: Human stupidity can sometimes arise from a lack of contextual understanding or misinterpretation of information.
Comparing AI and Human Stupidity
While AI can outperform humans in specific tasks, it lacks certain qualities that contribute to human stupidity:
- Creativity and Innovation: Humans still excel at thinking outside the box and making unexpected connections, which can sometimes lead to “stupid” ideas but also to groundbreaking innovations^2.
- Emotional Intelligence: AI systems lack the deep understanding and genuine empathy that humans possess, which can sometimes be a source of both wisdom and foolishness^2.
- Adaptability: Humans can adapt to new situations and improvise, while AI systems are limited to their training and programming^7.
The Complexity of Stupidity
Human stupidity is not simply a lack of intelligence. It can involve complex social, emotional, and cultural factors that AI may struggle to replicate or surpass. The very notion of “stupidity” is subjective and context-dependent, making it challenging for AI to fully encompass its complexity.
Final Battleground
While AI has surpassed human capabilities in many specific tasks, it has not yet reached a level where it can fully replicate or surpass the complexity of human stupidity. The developers can leave that part out while humans are prone to follow it like moths to a light.
The unique blend of intelligence, emotion, creativity, and irrationality that characterizes human behavior, including stupidity, remains a challenge for AI to fully emulate or exceed.
As AI continues to advance, it may develop more sophisticated ways of mimicking or analyzing human behavior, including aspects of stupidity. However, the fundamental differences between artificial and human intelligence suggest that AI’s approach to “stupidity” would likely be qualitatively different from human stupidity, rather than a direct surpassing of it in terms of complexity.
In the end, this isn’t about one side “winning.” The real goal is to combine the best of both worlds. Together, humans and AI can build a future that’s smarter, kinder, and more innovative. That’s how we all win.
