We are living in an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming every aspect of life. AI not only assists humans in their work but also changes how we access knowledge. Elon Musk once stated: "The sum of human knowledge has already been fully utilized through AI." What does this mean? And how should we perceive the role of knowledge in this new era?
- Has Human Knowledge Been Fully Utilized?
In the past, when you had a question, you had to seek out experts or read multiple books to find an answer. However, finding the right expert was not easy. Many people had questions that remained unanswered simply because they had no one to ask.
Today, AI has completely changed this. With just a smartphone, you can find answers to almost any question—whether in science, history, technology, medicine, or finance. AI can aggregate information from millions of articles, books, and research papers to provide precise and faster answers than any expert. In a way, we can say that "human knowledge" has been fully utilized—not because people have learned everything, but because AI has made it incredibly easy to access and apply that knowledge.
- Do Humans Still Need to Learn?
If a smartphone can provide all the answers, do people still need to learn? In the past, parents often advised their children: "Study hard to gain knowledge, because knowledge belongs to you. The more you know, the more confident and proud you will be." But does this still hold true in the AI era?
From a practical perspective, sometimes an ordinary person with a smartphone and internet access can outperform an expert. You no longer need to memorize every math formula—AI can solve even the most complex equations for you. A doctor doesn’t need to recall symptoms of thousands of diseases when AI can diagnose them more accurately. A lawyer doesn’t need to remember every legal article, as they can instantly search for the relevant law with a single click.
Thus, the key is not memorizing knowledge but knowing how to use technology effectively to find and apply it when needed.
- What Should Humans Do to Stay Valuable?
If knowledge is no longer what sets humans apart, what is? In the AI era, human value is not defined by how much we know, but by how we live.
Live ethically and with compassion: When AI can handle most intellectual tasks, what makes humans unique is kindness, morality, empathy, and love.
Know how to apply technology: We don’t need to know everything, but we must be smart in leveraging AI to solve real-world problems.
Develop creative thinking: AI can compile information, but it is humans who innovate and bring new ideas to improve society and technology.
Build relationships: AI can provide advice and support, but only humans can truly connect with one another through emotions and sincerity.
Conclusion
Knowledge remains important, but the way we access it has changed. In the AI era, being an expert does not mean memorizing vast amounts of information but knowing how to use technology to enhance one's capabilities. More importantly, what truly defines us is how we treat one another, how we live with ethics, and how we show love and kindness. When knowledge and wealth become fleeting, character and morality remain the true measure of a person’s value.
Top comments (1)
I think you believe the hype too much.
We don't know everything, that is why scientists and universities still are doing a lot of research. AI only knows what is available to it, so it will always be behind the human knowledge.
AI at the moment is focused on giving a result, it doesn't care about the validity.
AI at the moment is like a predictor kit. It will be most likely correct, but it is not a 100 procent sure. To be sure you need the knowledge to verify the response.
This is a trap. Libraries exist for over thousands of years so people always had a way to find knowledge. AI is nothing more than a search engine to get a response.
I have fallen into the trap that the response was the correct answer, and It made me more aware of the limitations.
This is just plain wrong. All people are entitled to have an education and money. This is medieval/cast system thinking. If you find character and morality really important it should apply to all people.
I know we don't live in a perfect world, but it is on all of us that make it a livable place.