Augmenting Human Intelligence
As technology has progressed through the centuries, more and more tasks have been automated—that is, more work that previously was performed by humans is now being performed by machines. We’ve had such success in this endeavor that we often take it for granted, but automation is not a given. Innovation requires a thorough understanding of the task, how it is currently performed by a human, and how a machine could perform it, if possible.
The way humans and machines do work is very different. Machines are good at repeating operations a truly astounding number of times, while humans are good at solving novel problems. Machines can handle complicated tasks, but they must be designed to do so by a human (for now at least). In situations where there can be a wide variety of unpredictable challenges, it is simply not possible to design for them all.
So, by and large, jobs where the tasks are predictable can be automated, like fabricating and assembling automobiles, and jobs where the tasks are unpredictable cannot be automated, like performing exploratory surgery or training horses. Does this mean that technology has nothing to offer the surgeon, horse trainer or customer service rep? Of course not! Rather than attempting to design for every possible situation, if we design machines that are appropriate for a majority of the situations a worker will face, we will greatly improve their productivity, while relying on the abilities of the individual to handle the unforeseen. Luckily, there’s a word for such a machine, intended for use by humans: a tool.
At Sensentia, this ancient understanding of the relationship between humans and machines is what directs our innovation. Our technology is developed not to replace humans, but to help them perform even better, by giving them the best possible tools for the job.
About the Author
Nick Farmer is a manager of the Knowledge Engineering team at Sensentia. Nick’s background in linguistics serves as a foundation for programming and natural language inquiries. In his spare time he can be found restoring his Edwardian era home or creating constructed languages for popular science fiction TV shows such as Star Trek and The Expanse.
Share this article
Related articles
Artificial Intelligence: The Secret Sauce for Improving Medicare Member Satisfaction and CAHPS Scores
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that Medicare Advantage (MA) Star measures are shifting and will be heavily weighted toward member experience. For 2021-2023, the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey.
Do You Know the Metrics of Your Sales Team?
when we talk to sales leaders, the norm is actually to NOT know their numbers. Even worse, many sales Leaders can’t even access this information without jumping through a series of hoops and red tape. If you talk to any successful sales leader, they’ll tell you just how important the key performance indicators (KPIs) are to their success. KPIs guide your progress toward your sales goals. They are indicators of if and how well you are meeting your goals.
Do People Actually Understand Their Coverage? [The Answer May Surprise You]
More than three-quarters of respondents in a Forbes Advisor Survey couldn’t identify the word coinsurance, and nearly half incorrectly defined copayment and deductible – and that’s just the beginning of their confusion about the U.S. health insurance system.
Artificial Intelligence: The Secret Sauce for Improving Medicare Member Satisfaction and CAHPS Scores
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that Medicare Advantage (MA) Star measures are shifting and will be heavily weighted toward member experience. For 2021-2023, the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey.
Do You Know the Metrics of Your Sales Team?
when we talk to sales leaders, the norm is actually to NOT know their numbers. Even worse, many sales Leaders can’t even access this information without jumping through a series of hoops and red tape. If you talk to any successful sales leader, they’ll tell you just how important the key performance indicators (KPIs) are to their success. KPIs guide your progress toward your sales goals. They are indicators of if and how well you are meeting your goals.