3 Fascinating Takeaways from AI Expert Alan D. Thompson’s Latest Interview: What Does This Mean for Learning Professionals?
Move over, sporting heroes. Dr. Alan Thompson is, without a doubt, my man of the moment. He is a world expert in artificial intelligence (AI) and plays an advisory role for most Fortune 500s, major governments, and intergovernmental entities including the US and UN Governments from multiple countries. If AI commentary were an Olympic sport, he’d undoubtedly take home the gold!
Here are my three favourite takeaways from his latest interview[1]:
1. AI is Already Far More Intelligent Than the Average Human
Dr. Thompson highlighted that models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet scored 67.2% on a benchmark designed for PhD domain experts.[2] This suggests that these AI models can outperform individuals with doctorates in specialised subjects. Amazing.[3]
2. AI Can Demonstrate a High Level of Empathy
He also shared that recent tests showed ChatGPT-4 achieving empathy ratings about 70% higher than human doctors. The AI’s responses displayed infinite patience and a greater willingness to listen, showcasing its advanced capabilities in understanding and addressing human emotions. Fascinating.[4]
3. AI Can Be Funnier Than the Average Human
Dr. Thompson mentioned a study comparing the humour of models like GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 with that of humans. The results revealed that the AI models had a sense of humour that was 20% more pronounced than the human baseline. This ability to generate humour is part of a broader trend where AI excels in areas traditionally thought to be uniquely human, showcasing its creative thinking and emotional intelligence. Mind Blowing.[5]
How Are You Feeling as You Read This?
My journey with AI began 7 years ago when we started experimenting with creating a chatbot coach (Coach M) to deliver our learning transfer coaching methodology. Initially met with scepticism, our idea soon sparked curiosity, then disbelief, and finally awe. And these were the emotions inside our own team! Lee Simons, in his article published by Stanford University, cited research showing that when people consider the differences between AI and humans, they tend to emphasise what makes us uniquely human.[6]
Where Does This Leave Us as Learning Professionals?
The world of learning—and the world at large—will be different in 2025 and beyond, and by 2030, it may be almost unrecognisable. Now is the time to step back from day-to-day tasks and consider how you will contribute to the organisations of the future.
While you may currently be focused on skills taxonomies and development, a more fundamental skill is required: the skill of being human.
The World Economic Forum predicts that critical thinking, along with problem-solving, will top the list of skills employers believe will grow in importance over the next five years.[7] This emphasis has been consistent since their first report in 2016. As technology adoption increases and job roles evolve, critical thinking is seen as essential for adapting to the changing workplace and meeting new challenges.
What are CEOs really saying? What does critical thinking entail? The core principles include logical reasoning, argument analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making. Positive leadership is crucial too. They want people who excel at being human. Yet, many of our leadership and interpersonal skills are currently taught in a mechanistic way, which won’t serve us moving forward. Far too often, people are taught as if they are machines. As the saying goes, times are changing.
People within organisations won’t just need to manage their emotions—they need to leverage them. They won’t need to actively listen like a machine (after all, Coach M can do that as well as a human already!); they need to truly engage in listening.
With my experience with Coach M over the last 7 years, I’ve spent the past 18 months delving deeply into how we can unlock our human ingenuity while working alongside these machines.
This makes me excited to share more in my upcoming webinar this month about Being Human in the Age of AI – Embracing Synergy not Rivalry, so do join me. You can choose the session that best fits your schedule – either August 28 or 29, wherever you are in the world.
REGISTER HERE:
Session 1: Breakfast and Learn (Sydney, 08:00 AEST)
Session 2: Lunch and Learn (Sydney, 12:00 AEST)
Session 3: Supper and Learn (Sydney, 18:00 AEST)
REFERENCES:
[1] Dr. Alan Dr. Thompson, Interview about AI – Dr Alan D. Thompson on AI, Brain Machine Interfaces, + Intelligence (Aug/2024) from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiID-vKpiBI
[2] Dr Alan D. Thompson, LifeArchitect.ai (June/2024). Model sizes near to scale. * Estimates based on independent analysis. Selected highlights only. IQ correlation estimates only: https://lifearchitect.ai/visualising-brightness/ PhD/IQ correlation: https://www.religjournal.com/pdf/ijrr10001.pdf All models: https://lifearchitect.ai/models-table/ Alan D. Thompson. 2024.
[3] Dr Alan D. Thompson, LifeArchitect.ai (June/2024). Source: MMLU (Massive Multitask Language Understanding) benchmark features 57 tasks including mathematics, US history, computer science, law, and more. % increases rounded. https://lifearchitect.ai/gpt-4-5/ Alan D. Thompson. 2024
[4] Dr. Alan D. Thompson. LifeArchitect.ai (April/2023). Available at: https://lifearchitect.ai/iq-testing-ai/ Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37115527/. Alan D. Thompson. April 2023.
[5] Dr. Alan D. Thompson. LifeArchitect.ai (July/2024). Source: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305364 Alan D. Thompson. July 2024. https://lifearchitect.ai/iq-testing-ai/