Editor’s note: Besides following developments in tech, our author is also a musical composer (Juilliard-trained). He has provided a musical composition for you to listen to while reading this column. This piece is called “Convergence Column.”
Harvesting Infinity” embodies the concept of limitless innovation and coincides with the mindset of abundance that is popular in Silicon Valley. This is my third column on the subject. In the first part, I put the mindset of “Harvesting Infinity” into context and discussed how its adherents on the West Coast used it to surpass the more conservative tech giants on the East Coast. In Part 2, I discussed another application of “Harvesting Infinity” …the endless possibilities inherent in linking AI to our own streams of consciousness.
Today, in Part 3, I want to talk about awareness, and how this awareness can help us figure out what we can realistically do or be.
As I wrote last week, AI-assisted tools are allowing us to increase our subconscious awareness. As a result, the amount of freedom we have to define how we spend our time and energy is increasing tremendously. But, we need to apply some principles of convergence to this freedom, or we will spin around and not get anywhere. Defining one’s own identity provides the most rational way to ground these processing. While it’s tempting to use this new information to set new goals, goal setting is counterproductive until a person’s daily behaviors become consistent with who they think they truly are, informed by some empirically gathered evidence.
This means it is not only about who you think you want to be, or even who you think you really are. Ideas and identities need to be vetted by reality. We each need to be in a feedback loop with reality, where evidence exists that who you think you are or might want to be can be at least somewhat objectively obtained. If you cannot do math, you are not going to be a physicist. If you are five feet tall, you are not going to be a professional basketball player. There must be some tempering of our dreams and AI-supported explorations.
One form of AI-assisted convergence is the information supplied by fitness trackers and smartwatches. They can tell you what kind of shape you are in, how well you slept, and even your readiness factor to deal with life on a day-to-day basis by measuring physical variables. If you think you are ready to do something very physically strenuous and your fitness tracker tells you there is a good chance of having a cardiac event, then
listen and do not do it.
There are many ways in which intelligent systems can provide evaluations and appraisals, but what are they compared to? We have to normalize measurements to something realistic and objective. You cannot know the path to get somewhere if you do not know where you are going. Your behaviors must be aligned with your desired identity if you are to progress. AI can provide a great deal more information than you previously had available. Some of this information can be false, useless, or distracting. The only way to tell is to apply a force of convergence to this new, larger situation you have created through the addition of various AI tools.
Part of knowing what to do is knowing what not to do. These tools are so powerful that they can be seductive and derail your prior plans. Sometimes, this is what you want, and other times, it is disastrous. As you spend time with these tools and increase your awareness of your subconscious knowledge, the size of your world will increase. You need to learn to navigate this larger world, which will likely require different skills and tools than those you already have acquired.
AI self-appraisal tools offer a range of capabilities to help you gain deeper insights into your strengths, weaknesses, and overall personal growth. For instance, Pymetrics employs neuroscience-based games and AI to assess cognitive and emotional traits, guiding you toward suitable career paths. Receptiviti analyzes language used in text to gauge personality traits, emotional states, and cognitive styles, providing a window into your communication patterns and emotional well-being. Crystal Knows examines your online presence to deliver personality insights, enhancing your understanding of your communication style and interactions with others. Similarly, Humantic AI leverages your digital footprint to reveal behavioral tendencies and offer tips for improving interpersonal skills.
Moreover, platforms like Lattice, BetterUp, and LUMEN provide comprehensive self-assessment and coaching tools for both personal and professional development. Lattice’s AI-driven performance management system includes self-assessment features that help track progress and set achievable goals. BetterUp combines AI with coaching to pinpoint your strengths and areas for improvement, focusing on holistic development. LUMEN, on the other hand, analyzes your responses to various scenarios to offer insights into your personality, decision-making style, and potential career paths. These AI tools collectively empower you to understand yourself better, align your goals with your true identity, and foster continuous personal growth.
As you increase your options, try to get a better handle on your desired identity to ensure the way you spend your time aligns with behaviors consistent with who you are.
