A new book suggests ways to build symbiotic relationships between humans and AI

The traditional enterprise, with its rigid structures and constrained decision-making, is increasingly ill-suited to adapt to the dynamic and unpredictable environment of a co-intelligence world of individuals as creative-experiencers involved in Human–AI interactive engagement and co-creation of risk-managed value. It calls for a symbiotic relationship between human flourishing and the socio-technical assemblages that we have formed collectively. Only through thoughtful, risk-managed co-intelligence value co-creation can we ensure that it empowers us, rather than extinguishes the very spark of humanity and life – experiences it seeks to amplify.

AI first needs to be seen as augmenting, and not just automating, human work. Davenport and Kirby note the promise of augmentation in their 2016 book, Only Humans Need Apply: “humans and computers combine their strengths to achieve more favourable outcomes than either could alone.” As Nobel Prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu argues, the focus on automation over augmentation is a choice and not a predetermined outcome of technological advancement. With the appropriate economic and non-economic incentives, such as tax policies and research emphasis, the right type of AI may be developed that supports employment and shared prosperity.

Another important question that enterprises must ask themselves is what constitutes social responsibility in a business? They should find the right...

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