I, Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique

by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Will artificial intelligence improve the way we work and live, or will it alienate us? The choice is ours. What will we decide?

It's no secret that AI is changing the way we live, work, love, and entertain ourselves. Dating apps are using AI to pick our potential partners. Retailers are using AI to predict our behavior and desires. Rogue actors are using AI to persuade us with Twitter bots and fake news. Companies are using AI to hire us—or not.

This is just the beginning. As AI becomes smarter and more humanlike, our societies, our economies, and our humanity will undergo the most dramatic changes we've seen since the Agricultural Revolution. Some of these changes will enhance our species. Others may dehumanize us and make us more machinelike in our interactions with others. It's up to us to adapt and determine how we want to live and work.

Are you ready?

In I, Human psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic offers a guide for reclaiming ourselves in a world in which most of our decisions will be made for us. To do so, we'll need to double down on what makes us so special—our curiosity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence—while relying on the lost virtues of empathy, humility, and self-control.

Filled with big-think fascinations and practical wisdom, I, Human is the book we need to thrive in the future.

Genres: Artificial Intelligence, Science, Nonfiction, Psychology, Technology, Philosophy

256 pages, Hardcover

Published October 25, 2022

About the author

Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is an international authority in psychological profiling, talent management, and people analytics. He is the CEO of Hogan Assessment Systems, Professor of Business Psychology at University College London (UCL), and visiting Professor at Columbia University. He has previously taught at New York University and the London School of Economics.

He has published 8 books and over 120 scientific papers (h index 41), making him one of the most prolific social scientists of his generation. His work has received awards by the American Psychological Association and the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences.

He is also the director of UCL's Industrial-Organisational and Business Psychology programme, and an Associate with Harvard's Entrepreneurial Finance Lab.

Over the past 15 years, he has consulted to a range of clients in financial services (JP Morgan, HSBC, Prudential), advertising (Havas, Fallon, BBH), media (Yahoo!, MTV, Endemol), consumer goods (Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser), fashion (LVMH, Net-a-Porter), and government (British Army, Royal Mail, National Health Service).

His media career comprises over 70 TV appearances, including the BBC, CNN, and Sky, and regular features in Harvard Business Review, the Guardian, Fast Company, Forbes, and the Huffington Post. He is a keynote speaker for the Institute of Economic Affairs and the co-founder of metaprofiling.com, a digital start-up that enables organisations to identify individuals with entrepreneurial talent. He lives in New York.

Reviews

[Keith Bates · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

I tried hard to complete this, especially since it’s a short book but I just could not. It’s absolute drivel. Some of the worst type of academic writing. The kind where the author has an overinflated sense of their own abilities and approaches the subject arrogantly without really saying anything. Badly written. Repetitive. And comes at the subject from a weird angle that hinders rather than fosters the discussion. A word salad worthy of a politician. A book that manages to say nothing, repeatedly.

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I, Human initially caught my eye because of the Asimov reference in the title, and I decided to read it because the premise-- an exploration of how AI impacts human society-- was interesting, as well as relevant to my own paranoia about surveillance capitalism and the fragmentation of society due to algorithm-fueled hyper-polarization. Overall, it was an engaging read, although there were some assertions I felt weren't backed up with enough solid evidence.

The book touches on a wide variety of different issues exacerbated by the ever-more-ubiquitous presence of AI and influence of "the algorithm" on our lives. From the social-media-fueled narcissism epidemic to surveillance capitalism to political homogeneity/echo chambers, a lot of the problems facing modern society can be said to be at least somewhat influenced by the impact of AI.

The main argument of the book seems to be that AI is effectively "simplifying" our lives, dumbing us down, and increasing our predictability. This was a really interesting thesis, because usually speculation about the threat posed by AI is focused on more flashy and outlandish threats, like The Terminator or HAL-9000 moments. Chamorro-Premuzic's approach, an exploration of the more subtle ways over-reliance on technology can impact our psychology and patterns of behavior, was a breath of fresh air for me.

However, I do think that he neglected to explore some of the more positive impacts that these technologies have had on our lives, and the book covered such a wide scope that some of the more fascinating topics only got a shallow treatment.

If you want to read an interesting book about how the AI boom could and has impacted society and culture, this one would be a good choice.

[Luisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I borrowed I, Human from the library because of the intriguing title, but I can't say I learned a lot.

The author, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, suggests we should get more sleep and exercise, stresses the importance of human humility and curiosity, wants us to remember that unhappiness is an important incentive to change things and that "there is also a difference between making our life easier and making the world a better place." He posits that "While we are helping AI to upgrade itself, we are steadily downgrading ourselves."

Even though there are some 16 pages of footnotes and 157 pages of text, the following assertion is not footnoted: ". . . one of the little-known facts is that free will is an illusion, for we make most decisions influenced by an array of neurochemical activity that is affected by tons of factors other than logic, from the amount of sunlight to room temperature, sleep quality, caffeine consumption, and, of course, a firm preference for being right rather than wrong, one who is rarely intimidated by facts."

I have to wonder if the author thinks people who are constantly on their screens will read this book.

[Victoria Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4.0⭐️
Thought this quote from the book 📖 was interesting 🧐:
« Let’s try to be less predictable….watch the movies Netflix would never expect you to watch. Connect with people that Facebook or LinkedIn would never expect you to connect with. Watch the videos YouTube would never expect you to watch. Invalidating AI’s predictions may be the ultimate way to harness a life beyond the algorithms model of you and feel free. » ⭐️
I really enjoyed this audiobook! With the advent of AI technologies becoming more common in our lives, I found this information useful and important. Not necessarily a literacy masterpiece but generally a good and short read!

[Ryan Weisenburger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hardly discusses the actual impacts of AI or Automation. Instead props up old technology being equated with AI, then using that for their logic. We are distracted with phones, tv, video games etc. This is an egregious error and I will not forgive it. There is more to pick apart, but that is not my intent. Book is overall somewhere between Duh, we all know that and wrong, broken links wrong.

[Jenny Erickson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very predictable account of the impact of AI on us. I didn't learn anything new, and it was more negative than positive focusing on all the negative changes in us vs the positive. I was underwhelmed.

[Hanie Noor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viewing AI from the perspective of psychology & social sciences with reflections on living in the age of AI. Written by a psychologist cum scientist, Chamorro-Premuzic, specialises in human traits and foibles specifically in understanding, defining, & measuring human intelligence. Technology is undeniably part of our life and has been closer to us than our own kin which has impacted our behaviour more than we ever think of.

AI has been emphasised as the next big thing that fuels the new industrial revolution. Its potential to transform the way we work and other aspects of our lives, i.e., our reliance on intuition over data, our propensity to conflate confidence with competence, etc. It is difficult to predict how AI will evolve due to its capacity to adapt, learn, unlearn, self-correct, and improve, regardless of whether it will eventually reach human cognitive levels. AI has the ability to expose bias and identify real signs of talent and potential, but it has also unleashed negative behavioural tendencies, such as increasing our addiction to social media platforms, our impatience, ignorance, delusions, as well as decreasing our intellectual and social curiosity. It is believed that as AI advances, we will be able to better control and interact with it, enabling us to reap the benefits of technological progress. Chamorro-Premuzic explores profound questions regarding what it means to be human in the AI age and better ways to express our humanity. We should consider what we observe in the human-AI interface and comprehend the journey ahead of us.

These technological advancements have redefined the aim of existence in the AI age to augment the intelligence of machines, not the other way around. We may regain the balance between an algorithmic and efficient existence and a pleasant, unpredictable, wonderful experience of life by reclaiming some of the vast variety of human experiences. We can also outwit AI by not undermining our own cognitive powers or outsourcing our life to computer algorithms. Automating any aspect of our lives, let alone our entire existence, necessitates a strategy for reinvesting our freedom, as well as our abilities and desirable activities. We have the ability to enjoy the benefits of AI and any other technology we design and deploy, rather than just being its creator.

[Peter Østergaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book and understand both the challenges we create for ourselves in a AI infused everyday life and how to stay human in the life focusing on the core principles of us being human beings.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read, made a lot of connection to what we took to be true to the why it’s true.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of equal and opposite reactions. How can something so interesting be so boring and something so boring be so interesting?

Enjoyed the tested at the end of each chapter.

The chapter on narcissism and humility hit me hard - it could’ve been talking about the 45th president or my current manager. (Also, wondered what Noam Chomsky would say about us not being automatons had he met my manager - in reference to a quote the book ends upon.)

In the reading this book, I can see the Age of the Terminator coming to fruition, given how dumbed down and numbed down we’ve become and continue to become. I only hope it happens way after my next couple of generations of loved ones are long dead!

[Elsie Jordan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high hopes that I would like this book, but it was not good. The author fails to acknowledge his own biases and then goes on to rant for 100 pages. I seriously kept thinking of old man Simpson shaking his fist at a cloud as I read this book. It is in desperate need of editing and organization.

[SecondMe80 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Differently from what I expected, this is less of a stance on the AI "revolution" (which I personally wouldn't coin as such) and more of a philosopho-psychological inquiry into what AI does to human life and society and how we might avoid it.
This alone wouldn't lead me to give only 3 stars, but even as I started reading, it felt like the arguments were neither specific to AI, nor were they new. I think I've heard a thousand times how online platforms hijack our basic human needs and motivational drivers for Big Tech's good instead of ours. I think we all know that online time tends to cannibalize time for offline activities (a truism) and attention spans. So what could a mildly informed reader get out of this book? I am not sure.

Moreover, Chamorro's prose appeared to me very heavy-handed, with long sentences which are sometimes hard to follow if it is only for their accumulation of common places. This is all made worse by the microstructure of the book, where chapter and sub-chapter headings are often neither telling nor fitted to each other.

Ok, I'll reduce my rating to 2 stars, among the lowest I've ever given. But this book is really not worth your while if you've ever read anything on the topic before.

[River Wilde · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the most superficial and obviously biased pop psychology books I've ever read. Which shouldn't be surprising, since the author is a part of a number of companies that use "ethical" (whatever that means...) AI. The over-generalizations, soundbites and constant repetitions made this a very frustrating read. I also found it remarkable how someone who sounds so preachy manages not to make it clear what he's actually advocating for, or advising, most of the time. Apart from "social media bad" and "AI good", I just felt he wrote a whole lot of words without saying absolutely anything. And if you're looking into having any insight into the subject of AI, its complexities and nuances, forget it. He doesn't even bother to explain the different kinds of AI that exist, how they differ and how each has certain pros and cons (as well as different impacts on science, technology, culture and psychology).
He managed to take one of the most interesting topics of our time and do absolutely nothing with it, other than fill a book with superficial takes, generelizations, platitudes and quotes. However, he did make a couple of good points that I found interesting, so I threw in an extra star for that.
Even AI could have written a better book.

[Dimitri · Rating 5 out of 5]

📕 Why (Not) to read this book (Target Audience)

Scary look on how we humans fit into the technology evolution.

👀 How this book changed my daily live (Takeaways)

Humans are general intelligence with pieces off unpredictability.

Artificial intelligence is narrow = Mathematical based using historic information (Big data) to make predictions.

Big data today is:
• Biased: not evidence based
• Egocentric: only showing success
• Shallow: based on quick response in the form off likes

Departing from humanity one click at the time

Technology drives impatience and forces humans to fast system 1 thinking. Creating the paradox where technology replaces system 1 thinking and humans distinct themselves from technology with the capability of system 2 thinking. As a result artificial intelligence leads to human stupidity. It is not because technology and A.I. can, that you should.

What do we do with our freed thinking capacity?
Asking questions is more important than giving answers.
No skill can be learned without interest or curiosity.

⁉ Spoiler Alerts (Highlights)

We may have wanted artificial intelligence but have encountered human stupidity instead.

[James Easterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only gave this book a three star rather than a four due to the low readability of it. Most of the concept is fine. Basically I read this to get somewhat of a handle on what Artificial Intelligence is and how it affects us. I think the book has help me understand some aspects of it. I think the most salient point in the book (other than Stay human, Stay creative, don’t become predictable) are the lines- “technology is neither good, nor bad, nor neutral…. The only way for technology to not affect our humanity is for no one to use it… humans are prone to overestimating the short term impact of technology, but underestimating it’s long term impact… Even when others are able to influence you, it is only because you let them.”
Go outside. Breathe air. It isn’t virtual,it’s real.

[Aurelio Guerra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book was published in 2023, it must have been written before the arrival of large language models like ChatGpt. Some of the things he mentions as particularly human, AI LLM already does with amazing results. The author has interesting views on his topic, but some of what he writes about concerning the impact of AI on "human I" is merely conjectural and perhaps lazily thought-through. He offers no solid evidence for what he claims. He conducts no study. Unfortunately, most of his ideas on how to "reclaim what makes us unique" have already been hijacked by AI.
The book, however, is not valueless. It would make an excellent guide for a discussion group on the topic.

[Adam Zuwerink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read similar books covering the exact same topics, but they were written by authors trained in the fields of mathematics, physics, computer science, etc. Mr. Chamorro-Premuzic presents how AI broadly shapes our lives and patterns from the perspective of psychology and the social sciences, which gives the book a fresh perspective on how we can be cognizant of why we act in certain ways when interacting with our digital lives. Each chapter stands alone as its own topic, but presents an overall clear view of how to ethically and "humanly" interact with algorithms.

[Ashwini Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading it right after 'Homo Deus' was probably not the brighest idea as Harari's book covered the same ground broadly in its chapters dealing with conceptualizing humans as algorithms and the way AI may impact human lives.

Quite a lot of commonality, although the difference is in the lens of the respective authors. Tomas' attempt has been to emphasize the 'perceived' losses that are occurring right now because of existing AI integrations as opposed to Harari's perspectives that were speculative as they dealt with probable scenarios in the future.

[Sai Athkuri · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the market, you will find a lot of books about the origin of AI, the recent advancements, the future, and its impact on society and the world. But this book mainly focuses on the impact AI has and will have at the individual level. The author clearly states how AI will have its impact on human behavior, affecting our thinking, patience, prejudice, and choices. He recommends that humans always stay curious, not be too dependent on AI for critical tasks, and use it as a tool. Overall it is a good read for person who wants to know the behavioral impact AI will have on human

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

From one of my favorite psychologist researchers, this timely book explores the impact of the AI age through a psychosocial lens. It's a wake up call—the AI age is reducing the richness of the human experience and doing more to increase our self-esteem rather than our actual intelligence. Luckily this book offers valuable suggestions on what we each can do to counterbalance the negative impacts of AI.

[Brandon Wilde · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much stuck with me from this book other than a few irrelevant political jabs :/

The author argues that if AI's bread and butter is making predictions, then we can stay "human" by being unpredictable. It seems like we could also just continue to exercise our own judgment and act for ourselves rather than deferring our choices to recommendation algorithms. Then again, if you live a perfectly predictable life and are happy with it, then why not enjoy AI's ability to serve you perfectly?

[Fadi Abu Shamat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will summarize this book by saying this is a decent book. Good read with good insights and great angle on not going with the main stream POV of blaming AI as evil or source of trouble but rather taking a good long look at our humanity and acknowledging that we are the source of the issue and we need to fix what is within first. Good read

[Tim Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly easy to read even for a Luddite such as I am. As the author states, an evaluation of where we and AI are now (somewhat confrontationally) and not a forecast for the future. But there is an alarm regarding how we should be behaving and controlling AI now before it does get out of hand.

[Mark Fulcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. Not what I was expecting - leads a lot more with the human than with the tech. Got me asking a lot more questions and going down different holes and keen to read Tomas’s other books. Recommend his TED talk too.
He may have repeated some of his past content/expertise but just shows that it is a big expanding field, and coming back to what type of humans we want to be. Simple.

[Amy Neumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book highlights the pros and cons of AI for society. I enjoyed the truth and sometimes harsh criticisms of how society is handling tech. Like the author, I believe in an overall positive path - should we choose to take it. This review of AI is enough for those who are just learning, and the viewpoint is eye-opening for anyone. All tech is what we decide to make of it.

[Jim Amos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good discussion of the cultural and psychological ramifications of living in an increasingly digitized, algorithmic world. But very little in the way of exploring the dehumanizing effects of AI. Feel a bit misled by the title. The writing is just ok, and chapters feel disorganized and a bit meandering. I am surprised by how many heavy hitting authors endorsed it.

[Nancy Bandusky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had the potential to be interesting on how to reclaim our humanity but failed completely. The author discusses the same concept in multiple chapters without saying anything new. Disappointing - and this reader didn't need AI to decide that.

[Luís Gouveia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro sobre IA na perspetiva de um Psicólogo.
Bem escrito, esruturado e fundamentado em trabalho científico e com muita qualidade.
Um testemunho em defesa do lado humano e da preservação da humanidade num tempo de inevitável adoção generalizada da inteligência artificial.

Excelente leitura.

[Durgesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book about knowing the key difference between AI and humans .
And the author’s way of presenting the stories and ideas is just amazing . Surely going to read his other books

[Human · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reminder to maintain and celebrate our humanity in the face of what is to come.