Human Intelligence - HI

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HUMAN INTELLIGENCE vs ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - Strengths & Limitations

Discover the fascinating world of human intelligence (HI) versus artificial intelligence (AI) and learn how you can actively protect our democratic future. Our HI vs AI guide offers you in-depth information on the critical implications for democracy, the dangers of big tech dominance, and Audrey Tang’s visionary concept of assistive AI.

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With nearly 4 in 10 employees saying their organisation has adopted AI in some form, many are already taking advantage of its benefits.

The use of AI has sped up processes, increased efficiency, cut costs, and helped to sort through mountains of data. AI models, however, can miss context and can also display biases. Worryingly, they can project confidence with very little information.

The benefits of AI are best seen when used in collaboration with human intelligence. People bring diverse logical decision-making, opinions based on evidence, and the unreplicable human imagination. They also bring essential perspectives with empathy and accountability.

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General Information on Human Intelligence

While AI continues to advance at an astonishing pace, the core differences between how humans and machines think remain profound. The methods of processing information, adapting, and finding meaning differ in distinct ways.

Origin:

• Humans are conscious. It is shaped by millions of years of evolution, sensory experiences, emotions, and social interactions.
• AI is algorithmic and mathematical. It is designed by humans and runs on code, data, and statistical probabilities.

Adaptability:

• Humans can learn a new skill with just a few or even one example. We can then adapt this knowledge to different areas of our lives.
• AI functions with very specific tasks. They require vast datasets to learn patterns and struggle with transferring this to out-of-context situations.

Intent:

• Humans are sentient, self-aware, and emotionally deep. Our intent is guided by moral agency, ethics, and the capacity to feel empathy.
• AI has no feelings, consciousness, or intent. It merely processes data to predict the next most logical output. It can only mimic empathy.

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Right Livelihood | Open Access

Audrey Tang’s Vision

Audrey Tang is a Taiwanese civic hacker and software programmer who has earned a reputation as one of the biggest names in computing. She has used her skills and influence to bring civic tech into the mainstream and promote internet freedom and civic participation in Taiwan and beyond.

In 2024, she became Taiwan’s Cyber Ambassador, a high-level diplomatic role specialising in digital policy, cybersecurity, and technology governance.

Her goal is to turn digital tools into a force for good. She provides one of the most democratic and human perspectives on the relationship between HI and AI. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, she champions collaboration and community.

Assistive Intelligence -

Tang defines the acronym AI as "Assistive Intelligence," rather than "Artificial." She argues that AI should never take a ‘top-down’ approach that forces humans out of the loop.

Tang’s approach views AI as a supportive tool that amplifies human agency, helps communities connect, and makes life easier.

Singularity vs Plurality -

Singularity in AI is the point at which AI surpasses human capabilities and can improve itself without human intervention. Silicon Valley has been relentlessly pursuing reaching this point.

Driven by greed, tech billionaires seek exponential profits and total market control. Escaping the limits of human cognition, if used for good, could help us to solve some of the planet's most pressing global issues, such as hunger, poverty, disease, and climate change, but many experts have labelled this concept a mere fig leaf.

AI is well documented to have exacerbated inequalities. The massive concentration of wealth in tech monopolies, the automation of jobs, and the biases in AI decision-making are already creating divides.

Co-author of the project and book 'Plurality', Tang argues that the true power of human intelligence lies in collective, horizontal intelligence.

"We the people, are already the superintelligence we are looking for" - Audrey Tang.

Flickr | Audrey Tang

She argues that the goal should not be to build a supreme machine to save us, but to use technology to connect our existing individual minds.

She highlights how AI biases can amplify polarisation and function almost like parasites feeding on societal division.

Tang’s solution of plurality advocates for using civic AI and tools like "Alignment Assemblies" to find consensus among populations and solve complex societal issues collaboratively.

Tang has proven that technology can help deepen trust and give millions a chance to help shape policies. With a mission to fight polarisation and uphold democratic values, her ideas on digital democracy and civic participation are being rolled out worldwide to promote open, inclusive, and transparent governance.

Her 'Taiwan Model' of democracy has already been adopted across various levels of government, civic organisations, and international initiatives, as well as in governments abroad.

Digital technology is transforming our democratic processes and reshaping how we engage with political processes. When used for good, digital tools can support campaigning, how we communicate with politicians, how we share our opinions, how we obtain information, how we vote, and how elections are run.

These new tools have opened up new avenues for participation, transparency, and accountability. Social media and government forums facilitate public discourse, make it easier for our voices to be heard, and allow voters to hold leaders accountable.

On intelligence, Tang sees the ultimate measure of intelligence as relational health - how well a community cares for its members and collaborates. Her belief is that AI should be designed locally and collaboratively to support community relationships rather than isolating individuals.

Statista | CC BY-ND 4.0

The Dangers of AI

The Digital Revolution and the rapid rise of Big Tech companies and AI over the last 2 decades have led to vast market dominance, massive concentrations of power and money, and an unexpected and dangerous role in politics.

The world's five largest tech giants are all American companies – Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, Meta (Facebook), and Microsoft. They all have their headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California, also known as Silicon Valley.

These companies exert massive control over the internet through operating systems, search engines, social media, e-commerce, and streaming services. This unprecedented influence allows them to set their own rules for competition, data privacy, information access, marketing, and audience engagement.

Statista | CC BY-ND 4.0

Major areas of concern include:

• The risk of overdependency
• The spread of misinformation, ease of manipulation, and content control
• Algorithmic bias
• Monopoly and antitrust concerns
• Security, data, and privacy
• The risk of international interference
• Labour exploitation
• Use of AI in warfare
• Extreme energy and water consumption caused by data centres

AI Plurality & Assistive AI For A Better World

Better World Info supports Audrey Tang’s approach to AI, focusing on plurality, community, and collaboration, in which AI assists human activities rather than overtaking or dominating them.

We must prioritise diverse perspectives, the decentralisation of power, and the implementation of regulations. Resilience, inclusion, sovereignty, and a commitment to democratic values are of utmost importance.

The human intelligence versus artificial intelligence debate is best resolved not as a competition but through a collaborative framework in which AI serves as a powerful supplement that enhances, rather than replaces, human critical thinking and creativity.

Author: Rachael Mellor, 17.07.26, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0