What we must never give away to AI
Details
As AI systems become more capable and more widely deployed, what are the human principles and practices that it will be especially important for us to retain and uphold, and not to surrender to AIs?
Here's the story so far:
- Our smart automated systems have progressed from doing tasks that are dull, dirty, dark, or dangerous - tasks that we humans have generally been happy to stop doing;
- They have moved on to assisting us - and then increasingly displacing us - in work that requires rationality, routine, and rigour;
- They're now displaying surprising traits of creativity, compassion, and care - taking more and more of the "cool" jobs.
Where should we say "stop" - lest we humans end up hopelessly enfeebled?
This online conversation, facilitated by futurists Matt O'Neill and David Wood, is a chance to explore which elements of human capability most need to be exercised and preserved. For example, consider:
- Judgement - Deciding what truly matters when information is incomplete or overwhelming.
- Stance - Knowing exactly what you will delegate to AI... And what you never will.
- Taste - Your instinctive sense of quality, timing, relevance, and cultural fit.
- Meaning-making - Explaining why things matter and what they mean for people, not just what the data shows.
- Responsibility - Owning the outcomes that affect people, trust, and your organisation's future.
You may have some very different ideas. You'll be welcome to share your views and experience.
This event will be taking place via LinkedIn. Click here for more details: https://www.linkedin.com/events/whatwemustnevergiveawaytoai-our7417901344268795904/
Note that the event is not a keynote or a panel. It’s a guided conversation.
Matt and David will introduce the ideas, share a few real-world examples, and then invite participants into discussion. The focus is practical, reflective, and grounded in lived experience.
If you’re interested in AI, leadership, human agency, or the psychological side of automation, this is a space to think out loud with others who care about where the boundaries should sit.
Date: Tuesday 10 February
Time: 7:00-8:00pm (UK)
Format: Online, discussion-led
Come curious. Come thoughtful.
Leave with sharper insights of your own.