Don’t be afraid. Why humans will maintain Superiority over Artificial Intelligence

Christoffel Sneijders
5 min readJun 8, 2023

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Amidst the ongoing surge of artificial intelligence advancements, there is a growing concern about the potential displacement of hundreds of millions of jobs.

While it may seem hard to believe, the truth remains: humans possess unique qualities that AI will never match.

Allow me to provide an illustrative example of what humans can do that artificial intelligence simply cannot replicate.

Consider the experience of entering a room filled with people, be it a family celebration or a gathering of friends. As you step into that space, you can often sense the atmosphere immediately, is it not? Whether it’s a heated discussion, underlying disagreements, or simply an air of animosity, humans possess an innate ability to perceive these subtle cues.

If your answer is yes, as it likely is for most of you, then you have experienced the remarkable quality of human sensing intuition. Artificial intelligence lacks this ability to sense and perceive the subtle nuances of human interactions.

Undeniably, artificial intelligence possesses impressive capabilities. It can provide answers based on vast databases, delivering information with unparalleled efficiency. When faced with the choice between an artificial intelligence lawyer armed with comprehensive legal knowledge of all the cases and textbooks of the last 200 years and a human lawyer who has spent years studying and understanding precedents, it may seem not more than logical to favour the AI. Humans simply cannot compete with the speed and efficiency of data gathering and analysis demonstrated by artificial intelligence in such areas.

But addressing the case for a jury, sensing all the reactions of the jury, I believe you will agree it will remain a human act; artificial intelligence will never have the ability to “smell” the room.

Artificial intelligence falls short when it comes to utilising our other senses in various professional contexts, such as taste, smell, touch, and overall sensory perception.

What will set humans always apart and embodies the advantage humans possess over artificial intelligence?

The answer lies in the fact that we possess not just one but three brains. Of course, we are familiar with the brain housed within our skulls, but we also have intelligence residing in our heart and gut.

This multi-brain system offers a distinct advantage over artificial intelligence, as these three wisdom centres have evolved over millions of years and operate in tandem with the environment we inhabit.

When we refer to “gut feelings,” it extends beyond mere statistics. Our gut instinct encompasses a deeper understanding of the environment, relying on energy, intuition, and the interplay between our brains.

Our Gut Brain plays a crucial role in our survival, generating neurotransmitters and hormones that activate our fight-or-flight response, regulate desire, and dictate our hunger and thirst. This intricate system, composed of 500 million brain cells communicating with the 100 billion brain cells in our head, also interacts with the heart, which is responsible for our social bonds and the release of oxytocin, the “love hormone.”

This intricate communication network, rooted in millions of years of evolution, cannot be replicated by artificial intelligence, no matter how advanced it becomes.

Moreover, our multiple Brains are not solely based on logical or statistical analysis. They incorporate information from our environment, including the energy we emit and receive from other individuals. Nature, for example, emanates a specific energy frequency of 7.83 Hz, which is absent in the bustling energy of a city. This energy system influences our perception and decision-making, a feat beyond the reach of artificial intelligence.

Although artificial intelligence may be capable of replicating basic human social interaction, attempting to match the sophistication of our adult sensing, social and cognitive abilities is an insurmountable challenge.

To delve further into the biological aspect, let’s consider the remarkable workings of a single cell. Each cell possesses thousands of receptors that constantly sense both internal and external cues, including neurotransmitters, blood pressure, and even energy and light emitted by plants and other organisms. The intricacies of this cellular system, present in our 100 trillion body cells with their interconnectedness and communication, far surpass what artificial intelligence can comprehend or replicate.

So, what is the greatest risk associated with artificial intelligence?

It lies in our reliance on habitual procedures, which consume the least amount of energy, a biological survival mechanism. Therefore, we are creatures of habit, and it is crucial to recognise that only 20% of our unique actions contribute to 80% of our outcomes.

This fast-thinking process, driven by our need to conserve energy, can lead us astray. There is undoubtedly a temptation to trust AI without critically engaging in slow, deliberate thinking processes, as that requires a lot of energy.

We often succumb to the allure of quick answers, just as we trust the first page of Google search results without further exploration. This fast-thinking process, driven by our need to conserve energy, can lead us astray. Artificial intelligence struggles to comprehend this distinction, as it predominantly operates within procedural frameworks, relies on predictable patterns, and may present shortcuts or provide basic answers.

This is where humans truly excel, true human connection extends beyond language and logical operations to encompass the richness of sensory experiences that artificial intelligence cannot replicate. The sensation of touch, pressure, and nuanced emotions are elements that challenge artificial intelligence’s capabilities. Furthermore, our ten fingers possess the ability to sense multiple and independent sensations and feelings and perform these tasks simultaneously — a feat beyond artificial intelligence’s grasp.

Rather than succumbing to fear and apprehension regarding artificial intelligence, we should focus on leveraging its potential to augment our knowledge and connect our three “brains.” Our education systems often prioritise cognitive development, emphasising thinking processes alone. However, by integrating our thoughts and emotions, we can tap into a second system of thinking coined by Daniel Kahneman as “thinking slow.” This enables us to navigate around the shortcuts and basic answers often provided by artificial intelligence.

Additionally, recent insights into how trauma resides in the body and how emotions are not easily reducible to standard procedures further emphasise the unique intelligence beyond our cognitive faculties. The interpretations we assign to our own sensations are subjective and often elusive, posing a challenge even for artificial intelligence. As humans, we struggle to interpret our own physical and emotional states accurately. In light of this, it becomes clear that artificial intelligence, with its reliance on data and algorithms, cannot fully comprehend and address the intricacies of our human experiences.

In conclusion, while artificial intelligence continues to advance and reshape various domains, it is vital to acknowledge the inherent superiority of human intelligence. Our ability to perceive, sense, and connect on multiple levels, combined with the complexity of our multi-brain system, renders us uniquely suited to navigate the world. By leveraging artificial intelligence as a tool and tapping into our human strengths, we can embrace its benefits while retaining our distinct advantages as intelligent beings.

If you’re craving more mind-expanding content, dive into Christoffel Sneijders’ insightful work, “Relationships? Which Brain is Talking?”

And, if you’re curious about your own 3 Brain (Head, Heart, and Gut) preferences, take the free test at https://www.3brainsacademy.com/3-brains-preference-test.

Stay curious, my friends, and embrace the uniqueness of your Head, Heart and Gut.

Cheers! Christoffel

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Christoffel Sneijders
Christoffel Sneijders

Written by Christoffel Sneijders

Executive coach, visiting professor at the IE Business School and Clinical Hypnotherapist /Psychotherapist