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By:

Prasad Dixit

11 October 2024 at 1:09:23 am

The Human Advantage in an Artificial Age

As artificial intelligence grows smarter and more efficient, the real battle may not be about machines surpassing humanity but about whether humans squander the qualities that still set them apart. With the recent news of a Chinese robot beating the human record in a half- marathon, there is renewed debate on how AI could outsmart human beings. Many experts see it as yet another proof of impending disaster as AI takes over most of the jobs in the years to come. This is not the first time when...

The Human Advantage in an Artificial Age

As artificial intelligence grows smarter and more efficient, the real battle may not be about machines surpassing humanity but about whether humans squander the qualities that still set them apart. With the recent news of a Chinese robot beating the human record in a half- marathon, there is renewed debate on how AI could outsmart human beings. Many experts see it as yet another proof of impending disaster as AI takes over most of the jobs in the years to come. This is not the first time when human civilization is facing a technological revolution that has the potential to impact society and economy in a profound manner. There is, however, a crucial difference with AI driven revolution that is often missed out. The first industrial revolution happened because steam engines were invented and it led to mechanization of production. It was followed by discovery of electrical energy and technologies to harness it for mass production. Next wave of evolution was led by computerization and automation in practically all the fields covering both offices and industrial shop floors through mainframes, personal computers, and programmable logic controllers. While all these leaps in technologies are very different in terms of the specific underlying inventions, they all have one thing in common. They were all invented to do things that were humanly impossible to do. One steam engine or electric motor could do the work that perhaps hundreds of humans would never be able to accomplish even with their collective muscle power. Automation of the manufacturing assembly line would deliver speed and accuracy that human beings would never be able to achieve. Beyond Human Technological advances in Telecommunication, for that matter, have simply expanded the range of 'hearing' and 'seeing' far beyond what human vocal chords, ears, and eyes could manage to do on their own. Computers, at its core, are essentially doing the math and calculations at a speed and accuracy that the human brain can never achieve. To add to that, machines using all these innovations in technology would work tirelessly without any fatigue for a duration that human beings would never be able to match. Although AI is yet another highly potent technological innovation, it is not as straightforward as the previous ones. It can absorb and synthesize huge amounts of data that the human brain perhaps cannot do. Ability of AI to answer any question reasonably well using all the global knowledge made available to it, summarize enormous amount of data and text quickly, quickly draw a complex picture based on instructions given verbally, predict a trend, recognize and highlight a specific face in a fraction of a second from millions of faces, write code based on simple English instructions, are all examples where the speed and accuracy of underlying computation is delivering what human being cannot match. However, there are several areas where human beings are trying to improve AI so that it can, some day, match or exceed capability that human beings themselves already have. Examples of this include the ability of AI to completely replace a human driver safely in all situations, understand full context or an intent behind a statement, carry out complex and well-coordinated mechanical activity in response to various unpredictable situations, react appropriately by correctly assessing the emotions at play, integrate generated code appropriately in the existing larger systems landscape, and so on. In such cases, AI is not exhibiting any capability that is humanly impossible to match. On the contrary, AI is trying to catch up with what humans can do easily. In other words, in these areas, AI is trying to become what humans already are. This very aspect separates AI driven technology revolution from all the previous ones. Direct Competition It is often said that AI and humans will co-exist in the future, and people will need to change their ways of working. It is obvious that AI is also going to directly compete with humans in many sectors. Equipment with an embedded chip on-board do compete with humans even today. A case in point is household equipment such as ‘intelligent’ washing machines and dish-washers where robots to do vacuum cleaning and floor mopping do compete with humans offering these services. A human household help can perform these activities far better than what a machine can do. However, given an affordable choice, an increasing number of households prefer machines over human maid services for a reason. Human household help may not always be punctual, sincere, honest, and reliable. But machines are. Uncontrolled emotions, anger, frustration, laziness, indiscipline, absenteeism do affect humans - but not AI driven machines (at least till the time AI itself acquires emotions of its own, and becomes self-aware some day). This aspect of comparison between AI and humans is likely to become far more prominent and consequential as AI driven machines and robots become more and more intelligent and thereby start competing far more effectively with human capability in many spheres. Competition is said to bring about improvement. Just as AI improves itself through continuous learning to mimic human behaviour and actions, human workforce also needs to improve itself by avoiding behavioural issues and inefficiencies referred to above. Otherwise, humans would lose the natural advantage that they still enjoy over AI, and which is likely to continue even in the foreseeable future. Employers or consumers in the labour-intensive service sector will accept AI driven machines and robots with all its known limitations if it turns out to be a better net-net deal in comparison to services offered by humans. This specific aspect has tremendous significance for India. Many Countries from the developed world do not have a young population with reasonably good IQ in required numbers. India, on the other hand, has it in abundance. One could compare it with abundant availability of Thorium or Sunlight in India as compared to the Western world. Consequently, unlike many Countries in the world that have a Uranium centric approach towards nuclear energy, India's approach needs to be centered around Thorium. India's strategy related to renewable, non-conventional, green energy needs to be based on solar power. Indian Context Strategies for adopting AI in the Indian context need to be similarly tailored for the Indian context. India needs to adopt AI in the areas where it clearly has an advantage over humans in terms of speed, throughput, ease of use, accuracy, and efficiency. However, the use of AI needs to be judiciously controlled in areas where AI is trying to catch up with the capabilities of the human mind and body. Several labour-intensive services such as drivers, caregivers for the elderly people, parcel delivery, security guards, maintenance and repair of various equipment, are all examples in that category. Educational policies and overall work culture in the Country needs to appreciate this reality. Just as AI experts are trying hard to 'teach' AI algorithms and improve them through supervised learning, another set of experts need to sensitize and teach humans on how to understand, appreciate, preserve, and further hone the significant natural advantage that they already have over AI. Despite all the technological breakthroughs in AI, in many areas, still, it is a battle that humans will lose only if they choose to. (The writer works in the Information Technology sector. Views personal.)

Reconstructing Ukraine: A $500 Billion Vision

Ukraine’s post-war recovery is more than national rebuilding—it could reshape global supply chains in food, tech, and critical minerals, setting a precedent for future conflict-hit economies.

Ukraine’s historical ties with Russia date back to its time as part of the Soviet Union. After the USSR dissolved in 1991, Ukraine became an independent republic through a national referendum. The early years were marked by economic instability, inflation, and shifting political alliances. Relations with Russia remained complex due to shared linguistic, cultural, and economic ties.


A major turning point came in 2014, when protests erupted over the government’s decision to delay an EU association agreement. These Euromaidan protests led to the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych. In the aftermath, Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in the Donbas region, sparking a prolonged conflict.


In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion, escalating the war. Fighting continues, displacing millions and causing widespread damage to public and private infrastructure.


International Responses

Following the invasion, many countries imposed sanctions targeting Russian finance, energy, and key individuals. The US, UK, EU, Canada, and others also provided Ukraine with weapons, air defences, medical aid, and financial assistance.


Multilateral financial bodies became involved. The IMF approved a multi-year support programme, while the World Bank and other development banks offered emergency and long-term aid to stabilise Ukraine’s economy and maintain public services.


Other countries adopted varied approaches. Some kept trade ties with Ukraine and Russia, focusing on diplomacy and neutrality. India, for instance, continued energy cooperation with Russia and refrained from joining multilateral sanctions.


Bilateral Agreement

On April 30, the US and Ukraine signed a bilateral financial agreement to aid post-war recovery. The US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund is a jointly governed platform that merges US aid with 50% of Ukraine’s future profits from natural resource projects. It is designed to attract private and international co-investment.


The fund will invest in energy, mining, transport, housing, and digital infrastructure focused on critical minerals and natural resources. The US has been granted preferential rights to participate in new development projects. Revenues generated through the fund will be shared equally between the two nations, although profits in the first decade will be entirely reinvested into reconstruction within Ukraine.


Oversight, Governance, and Implementation

Governance of the fund rests with a six-member board—three representatives from each country—operating by consensus. This structure ensures transparency and shared accountability. Individuals or entities that supported the Russian war effort are prohibited from involvement in any fund-supported activities. Ukrainian state assets will not be transferred to the fund, and ownership will remain with the state.


The agreement is awaiting ratification by Ukraine’s parliament. In the interim, steps are being taken to establish administrative structures and conduct assessments for potential investment projects.


Economic and Geopolitical Considerations

Estimates from international agencies suggest that Ukraine’s reconstruction could cost upwards of $500 billion over the next decade. The fund provides a new model of support based on equity investment rather than loans or grants. This model aims to generate revenue and stimulate job creation while reducing long-term debt obligations.


The agreement aligns with Ukraine’s broader goal of integrating into European and transatlantic institutions. While Ukraine is not a member of NATO or the EU, it has sought closer ties in economic and security domains. The fund does not conflict with these aspirations and may help facilitate institutional reforms required for future membership.


Access to Ukraine’s untapped energy resources may also affect energy security discussions in Europe. With European countries working to diversify away from Russian oil and gas, investment in Ukrainian reserves could provide new alternatives in the medium to long term.


Broader Implications

Reconstruction in Ukraine is expected to require improvements in legal frameworks, procurement systems, and institutional governance. Ukrainian authorities have pledged to expand reforms aimed at reducing corruption and improving regulatory efficiency. These steps are seen as essential to attract further foreign investment and to build public trust.


Other countries, including members of the European Union and development agencies, are expected to coordinate efforts with the U.S.-Ukraine fund. Discussions are ongoing to establish oversight platforms and shared benchmarks for monitoring reconstruction outcomes.


Strategic Significance

While the fund is economic, it also carries strategic weight. By committing to long-term reconstruction, the United States is expanding its involvement in Ukraine beyond immediate military and humanitarian aid.


Ukraine’s recovery could influence global supply chains, particularly in agriculture, critical minerals, and IT services. The fund’s approach to joint control and reinvestment could help set standards for other post-war development scenarios.


(The author is a foreign affairs expert. Views personal.)

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