PVLF 2025

Interview with Aswin Chandarr, Author of "The Inevitable Ai: Art Of Growth With Generative Intelligence"

Join Aswin Chandarr as he explores the transformative power of AI in "The Inevitable AI," discussing generative intelligence and its impact on growth.
on Sep 30, 2024

Aswin Chandarr is a distinguished figure at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, embodying the roles of an entrepreneur, author, and educator. With over 18 years of ground breaking work in AI and robotics, Chandarr has dedicated his career to unraveling the complexities of technology and its implications for humanity's future. As the visionary founder of The Global AI Transformation Institute, Chandarr has created a pivotal platform committed to demystifying AI's vast capabilities and potential for societal benefit. Promoting a multidimensional view of technology as a force for global progress and innovation, it offers unparalleled consulting and training that intersects business, education, and policy.

With a rich academic background, including a Ph.D. and an MBA from prestigious institutions in the Netherlands and the USA, Aswin can demystify complex technical terms with astonishing simplicity. His work extends beyond academia into the tangible world, where he has pioneered multiple robotics companies, such as Robot Care Systems and Loop Robots. These ventures focus on integrating robots into daily life to address some of society's most pressing challenges, particularly in elderly care and healthcare. Chandarr's work as a futurist is not just about predicting the future; it's about creating it. His insights into the evolving landscape of AI and robotics are profound and actionable, encouraging others to engage proactively with the future of technology.

Frontlist: Your book explores AI's profound impact on civilization, drawing a compelling analogy between AI and the discovery of fire. How has your personal journey in AI and robotics shaped your perspective on technology's future, and what parallels do you see between the transformative potential of AI and the discovery of fire in reshaping human history?

Aswin: My journey through the domains of AI and robotics has been deeply rooted in philosophical exploration coupled with practical application. Since my doctoral studies, my aim has extended beyond merely adopting the prevailing technologies of the time. Instead, I've been driven by a desire to grasp the fundamental essence of technology from a multifaceted perspective. This foundational understanding has enabled me to pioneer applications previously unimagined, such as our elderly care robot, Lea. Unlike traditional perceptions of robots as humanoid or industrial giants, Lea integrates advanced robotics into a familiar device—a rollator—making cutting-edge technology accessible and friendly.

This method of understanding the core nature of emerging technologies has inspired me to draw parallels between historical and technological leaps and the current AI revolution. Using analogies and historical precedents is not only a powerful tool for forecasting technological evolution but also serves as an effective means to communicate these complex ideas to a broader audience. The discovery of fire is a prime example of such a transformative force in human history. It's ubiquitous and integral to everything from cooking to space travel, yet its misuse can lead to devastation, as seen in wars or wildfires.

Similarly, today’s advancements in AI are poised to redefine our civilization's trajectory. Equipping computers with vast memory and computational power to partner with humans in creative endeavors marks a significant shift. By freeing up human intellectual capacity from mundane, repetitive tasks, AI allows us to focus on novel and pressing challenges. This profound impact of AI could well mirror how fire transformed us from primitive cave dwellers into species capable of exploring space. Just as fire did, AI holds the potential to fundamentally reshape our society in ways we are only beginning to imagine.

Frontlist: Many people worry that AI will lead to significant job losses. How do you address these concerns in your book, and what strategies do you propose to balance AI’s benefits with potential job displacement?

Aswin: Resonating the title of my book, the loss of jobs as we know today due to AI is inevitable. While there is a common belief that AI will create more jobs than it eliminates, this view doesn't capture the full picture. AI should be viewed as a "Mental Power Multiplier," akin to how engines and motors enhanced human physical capabilities by performing heavy lifting and fast transportation tasks previously unimaginable for humans alone. Just as it's impractical today to outperform a car in speed or a crane in lifting, competing directly with AI in tasks like data analysis, copywriting, or programming will soon become equally unfeasible. Instead, we should focus on transforming our skills to become proficient users of AI technologies, much like we adapted to become car drivers and designers when automobiles became mainstream.

To mitigate the valid concerns regarding AI-induced job loss, I discuss the nature of today's jobs through the lens of AI's influence. This analysis helps delineate which roles are likely to be affected immediately—like those in call centers or customer support—and which will face changes in the near future, such as paralegals and marketing copywriters. I also highlight areas where the human touch remains crucial, such as in medicine and the judiciary, underscoring the irreplaceable nature of human empathy and ethical judgment.

Furthermore, I argue that while AI transforms certain sectors, it doesn't render human input obsolete. Critical and often overlooked fields like agriculture still require human ingenuity and adaptability to meet challenges posed by global changes and a growing population.

To navigate this transition, both enterprises and the workforce must rethink their roles, focusing on leveraging AI’s strengths while also enhancing human skills that complement AI’s limitations. This transformation requires a deep understanding of value creation and foresight, tools that I provide in my book. By reorienting our approach to work in the AI era, we can ensure that individuals and businesses alike become more essential, not less, as they navigate the changes brought by AI.

Frontlist: As AI technologies become more advanced, there are growing concerns about intellectual property and copyright, particularly regarding AI-generated content. How do you address these concerns in your book, and what are your thoughts on how copyright laws should evolve to keep pace with AI advancements?

Aswin: The pressing issue of intellectual property pertaining to AI-generated content is an area overshadowed by the dazzle of technological advances. AI systems effectively act as giant blenders, merging various elements of human creativity—text, videos, music—into new creations. For instance, consider an AI that can generate a podcast discussing Einstein’s theories in Shakespeare’s style, voiced by an imitation of George Clooney. This capability to blend styles makes it extremely challenging to pinpoint copyright infringements and protect original work.

The implications are profound, particularly for modern creators like authors, musicians, and artists, whose styles and outputs are absorbed by AI systems. This not only devalues their unique skills but also impacts their livelihood. For example, if AI can produce multiple versions of a poem or personalized artwork within minutes, it diminishes the economic value of similar original works.

Historically, as the internet became a medium for sharing content, it was unforeseen that this information would one day train AI systems capable of outperforming their human counterparts. AI developers have utilized vast amounts of online data, often without comprehensive legal restrictions, to improve their technologies. Unfortunately, it’s now too late to impose globally enforceable legal boundaries that would restrict AI companies from using this public data without impeding innovation. Instead, copyright laws must evolve to not only credit but also financially compensate original creators based on how frequently their work is utilized by AI systems. This approach, while technically challenging, is essential for fostering the continual creation of new content and preserving valuable human skills.

Moreover, there should be mechanisms requiring explicit permission from creators before their digital content is used to enhance AI systems. Establishing a global consensus on these copyright issues is critical. Without such regulations, there's a risk that creators due to disillusionment with AI’s "plagiarism", might revert to less efficient but more controllable methods, like pen and paper, to protect their intellectual property. This would be a significant regression from the digital advancements made over the past few decades and will have long lasting consequences.

Frontlist: With AI systems increasingly capable of producing artistic and creative works, how can humans and AI collaborate to push the boundaries of creative innovation? What are the key factors for ensuring that AI complements and amplifies human creativity rather than stifling it?

Aswin: As AI systems become adept at producing artistic works, it's crucial to differentiate between two types of creativity: incremental and exponential. Incremental creativity involves combining and tweaking existing styles to suit specific needs—a task well-suited to AI's capabilities. Exponential creativity, however, such as that demonstrated by visionaries like Van Gogh or Shakespeare, involves creating groundbreaking styles that endure for generations. This level of creativity remains uniquely human.

It's important to understand that AI cannot spontaneously generate fundamentally new concepts. While it can produce work that appears novel by remixing countless observed styles, true innovation—pushing creative frontiers and crafting new styles—remains the domain of human ingenuity. AI excels at iterating over existing patterns, but the genesis of original ideas and the ability to conceptualize something entirely new are capacities that AI has not and cannot yet replicate.

In the artistic domain, creativity often involves finding new ways to express and evoke human emotions. Here, AI can significantly accelerate the creative process, enabling artists to experiment with different styles and methods swiftly, thus enhancing their ability to convey emotions effectively. The key to ensuring that AI complements and amplifies human creativity lies in recognizing AI as a sophisticated tool—a highly advanced version of software like Photoshop—that must be directed by human insight. Humans define the artistic vision and emotional context, while AI assists in bringing these ideas to life.

By facilitating rapid iterations and explorations of incremental innovations, AI frees up human cognitive resources, allowing artists and creators more space to engage in the kind of exponential innovation that shifts paradigms. Imagine the potential advancements if the creative genius of individuals like Monet, Da Vinci, or Einstein were not rare historical anomalies but recurring phenomena within generations. This is the transformative potential of a synergistic partnership between human creativity and AI.

Frontlist: Your book offers insights into raising children in an era dominated by AI and technology. Additionally, can you discuss some of the practical applications of robotics you’ve pioneered, particularly in elderly care and healthcare, and how these innovations are influencing society and the upbringing of future generations?

Aswin: In a future where AI systems effortlessly outperform humans in many cognitive tasks, it's crucial to reassess the skills our children will need to coexist with these advanced technologies. The evolution of mathematical abilities offers a useful analogy: whereas speed in calculation was once prized, today, the ability to determine which calculations to perform is more valued, thanks to computers. We anticipate a similar transition in language skills, where the emphasis will shift from fluency to the quality of thought and clarity in communication.

Preparing the next generation for an AI-integrated future means fostering abilities that AI struggles to replicate—like critical thinking, creativity, ethical reasoning, and complex problem-solving. We must teach our children to excel in asking the right questions rather than just having the right answers, preparing them to thrive alongside AI, not be overshadowed by it.

My work in robotics, particularly in the Netherlands, has centered on integrating mobile robot applications into environments like homes and hospitals to enhance human capabilities. For instance, at Robot Care Systems, we developed robots to help the elderly maintain independence at home. These robots assist with mobility, fall prevention, exercise, and even provide entertainment, such as dancing, all while being able to fetch items from around the house at the press of a button. This was not only a technological breakthrough but also a cultural and philosophical endeavor to make advanced technology accessible and user-friendly for one of the most challenging user groups.

Another significant innovation was the development of hospital disinfection robots during the COVID-19 pandemic. These robots autonomously sanitize patient rooms, operating theatres, and pharmacies using UVC light. With advanced 3D room mapping, these robots provide autonomous, eco-friendly sanitization of healthcare spaces using UVC light, designed to operate seamlessly alongside human staff, enhancing their ability to ensure clean, safe environments..

These applications exemplify my philosophy that AI and robotics should not be about replacing humans but serving as “super-human tools” allowing them to achieve more than ever before. By integrating AI and robotics thoughtfully into society, we can provide our future generations with models of how technology can amplify human capacities, rather than diminish and making them redundant. This is a careful choice that we as a civilization need to adhere rather than letting AI evolve just due to economic rewards.