AI is expected to disrupt all manner of jobs, but there are some qualities that it could find hard to replicate.
Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath says that creative people will become more valuable in the AI era. Speaking on his podcast, Kamath offered a compelling perspective on the evolving relationship between AI and human creativity. His insights, rooted in observing the current AI landscape, suggest a future where creative thinkers hold a significant advantage.
“Today, the amount of money that has been spent on infrastructure around AI, compared to the revenues it is generating today, likely does not justify the multiples that the investors are getting. How it will change tomorrow and what will happen is very, very tough to say,” he said.
However, he posited a powerful idea about the future premium placed on creativity. “Creativity will get a significant premium compared to the last generation. Because every model that we talked about can probably predict or say what the likely scenario will be,” he explained.
Kamath said that creativity, by its very nature, was hard to predict or generate. “By creativity, I mean the very contrarian nature of creativity. I believe something is creative when you do something that is not following the trend. Any model will eventually either predict random or trend, not necessarily counter-trend. And most innovation generally comes from counter-trend thinking,” he said. “So, creative people will become a lot more valuable,” he concluded.
Kamath’s analysis underscores the inherent limitations of AI. While AI excels at pattern recognition and prediction based on existing data, true creativity often involves breaking established patterns and venturing into uncharted territory. This “counter-trend” thinking, as Kamath describes it, is the wellspring of innovation. AI, trained on historical data, may struggle to replicate this type of truly original thought.
Kamath isn’t the only person who’d said that AI will find it hard to be truly creative. Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams had said that AI would struggle to be funny. “The best jokes involve a thought that lots of people have had, but no one has put into words. AI can’t train on thoughts. If it trains on jokes already common, it is boring. AI is not allowed to be edgy, mildly offensive, or dangerous. Some forms of humor work best when you can’t believe the comedian “went there.”,” he had said .
As AI-powered tools become increasingly sophisticated in automating routine tasks, the value of uniquely human skills like creativity will likely increase. This suggests a future job market where individuals capable of generating novel ideas, devising unconventional solutions, and challenging the status quo will be highly sought after. In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, the ability to think outside the box may become the ultimate competitive advantage. Kamath’s perspective offers valuable food for thought for individuals and organizations navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of the AI revolution.