AI in the Age of Humans: Redefining Coexistence, Identity, and Relevance
A Shift in the Narrative — From “How Humans Will Survive AI” to “How AI Will Coexist with Humans”
Context: The popular narrative surrounding artificial intelligence has often revolved around fear—of job losses, societal disruption, and even human obsolescence. The question that dominated discussions was, “How will humans survive in the age of AI?”
- However, technology expert Jaspreet Bindra offers a critical shift in perspective. Instead of viewing humans as passive recipients of AI’s evolution, he proposes that we ask, “How should AI behave in the age of humans?” AI, after all, is not an independent force of nature—it is a human creation, shaped by human hands, intentions, and ethics.
- This change in narrative places the responsibility squarely on human societies to design and deploy AI that aligns with our laws, values, ethics, and collective goals. Rather than a looming overlord, AI should be viewed as a new member of human society—one that must learn the rules of coexistence.
About How Humans Are Still Better Than AI
- Despite AI’s rapid advancements in logic, pattern recognition, and language processing, its capabilities remain fundamentally different from those of humans.
- A Stanford study by Monin and Santoro reveals a psychological phenomenon called the AI Effect, in which humans emphasise the traits that AI lacks—such as empathy, morality, and emotional depth—to redefine and protect their sense of identity.
Interestingly, even large language models echo this distinction when asked what humans are still uniquely good at:
- Creativity and innovation – Rooted in emotion, ambiguity, and culture.
- Emotional intelligence – Deep relational awareness and empathy.
- Moral reasoning – Navigating gray areas with ethical depth.
- Strategic thinking – Handling uncertainty with adaptive, multidimensional thought.
- Cultural influence – Creating art, meaning, and social cohesion.
- Intuition and insight – Beyond algorithms—driven by life experience and instinct.
- Human relationships – Trust, family, community, love.
- Leadership and vision – Inspiring action through values and purpose.
These are deeply human traits—difficult to code and nearly impossible to replicate. AI may be efficient, but it does not possess soulfulness, agency, or lived experience.
How Humans and AI Can Coexist
What Factors AI Must Have to Coexist with Humans
For genuine coexistence, AI must embody a set of values that reflect the best of humanity. According to Bindra, AI must be:
- Trustworthy – Systems should be transparent, honest, and accountable.
- Fair – AI must recognize and correct biases to promote inclusivity and justice.
- Sustainable – Algorithms and data centers must minimise energy and resource consumption.
- Dignified – AI should respect human agency and never undermine autonomy.
- Humble – Machines must remain open to correction and under human oversight.
The path forward is not one of competition but of collaboration. The most productive vision of the future is one in which humans and AI work together—leveraging their respective strengths.
- AI augments, not replaces: In medicine, AI can analyse scans, but a human doctor delivers the diagnosis with empathy.
- AI as a partner: In education, AI can personalise learning, but teachers cultivate curiosity and emotional development.
- AI in governance: Algorithms may help optimise services, but policymaking still requires human judgment and ethical reflection.
This is the principle of symbiosis—AI as a tool that enhances human capability rather than undermining it. But for this to work, humans must stay in control, shaping AI to serve human-centric goals and democratic principles.
