Instant AI answers can trivialise human intelligence, warns Royal Observatory

The Royal Observatory Greenwich has issued a warning that the increasing reliance on AI tools that provide instant answers to questions and complex problems could have a detrimental effect on human intelligence. The Observatory, one of the UK's oldest purpose-built scientific institutions, emphasized the importance of human knowledge and curiosity in driving innovation and expertise. Paddy Rodgers, director of the Royal Museums Greenwich group, which oversees the Observatory, highlighted the risks of becoming too dependent on AI.

"A reliance solely on instant answers risks losing the habits of questioning and evaluation that underpin knowledge, expertise and innovation," he said. Rodgers' comments come as the Royal Observatory undergoes a transformation project called First Light, aimed at interpreting the passion of astronomers over the last 350 years through science. The project showcases the power of human knowledge and curiosity, as well as the need to avoid "complete dependence" on AI.

Rodgers noted that many groundbreaking discoveries, including those made by early astronomers, were not only facilitated by technological innovation but also by the human pursuit of answers to questions. These astronomers built a vast amount of data about the heavens, which was later used to verify ideas that they had never thought of. While AI has been used to aid scientific discoveries, such as Sir Demis Hassabis's work on proteins, Rodgers emphasized the importance of human involvement in the scientific process.

According to him, early astronomers did things that "a machine would not do," which ultimately led to significant breakthroughs. Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder and venture capitalist, also sees AI as a tool that can be used to enhance human capabilities, suggesting that it can be used as a "counter-agent" to challenge ideas. The use of AI in education has also been explored, with some academics and students reporting benefits in using the technology to challenge ideas and work through solutions collaboratively.

However, there are also warnings about the limitations and dangers of relying too heavily on AI. Rodgers cautioned that the use of AI can lead to a distancing from relatable or checkable information, as quick AI responses often omit sources. The development of generative AI products continues to accelerate, with chatbots, image generators, and advanced models being developed at a rapid pace.

While these advances have been praised, they are also accompanied by warnings about the need to use these tools responsibly and to be aware of their limitations.