Hey there, ready for a deep dive into something
really fascinating?
Always up for that.
Today we're gonna be talking about artificial intelligence
and how it's like shaking up the world of behavioral science.
Yeah, it's definitely moving faster than,
well, it's moving fast, it's crucial
we understand what's happening.
It really is.
We've got some seriously interesting research
and insights here, all from a panel discussion
at the London School of Economics.
Oh wow, the LSE, they always have their finger on the pulse.
Exactly, so we're talking about some serious heavy hitters
in both AI and behavioral science researchers,
folks applying this stuff in the real world.
Okay, yeah, so what are some of the big takeaways?
Well, one of the things that really jumped out
was this idea of AI being used to create,
get this, synthetic research participants.
Whoa, hold on, synthetic?
Like, artificial people?
You got it, instead of recruiting
hundreds of people for a study,
researchers can now use AI to create
like digital versions of people.
They can give them specific traits, backgrounds,
all sorts of stuff, and then basically simulate
how different folks might respond
in like a research setting.
So you're saying instead of finding people to study,
they can just create them, that's wild.
It really is, and it could totally revolutionize
how research is done.
Think about it, testing theories and interventions
way faster without the headaches of traditional studies.
Yeah, I see the appeal, but how accurate are these AI people?
Can they really be that realistic, that complex?
That's the million dollar question, right?
The tech is still pretty new,
but it's getting better all the time.
Like, how new are we talking?
I mean, researchers are developing these
really sophisticated algorithms that factor in everything,
you know, demographics, personality traits.
They're getting surprisingly good at mimicking us.
Okay, that's kind of unsettling, isn't it?
I mean, it's like AI's reading between the lines of our lives.
It is a bit like that, but think about the good it could do.
Imagine using that info to design better treatments
for things like addiction, procrastination, even prejudice.
Okay, yeah, I see the potential there,
but maybe this is just me.
What happens when they get too good?
Where's the line?
Right, and that's something the experts at LSE
were really grappling with.
On one hand, this could minimize harm to real people,
you know, even open doors to research that
would be impossible otherwise.
I see that for sure.
But on the other hand,
you've got concerns about privacy, consent.
The potential for misuse is huge.
Yeah, it's a lot to unpack.
What else did they have to say?
Well, one of the things that I found super interesting
was just how many potential applications
there are for AI in this field.
Okay, so we're not just talking about
synthetic research subjects then.
What else is out there?
Think of it this way.
Imagine an AI that can go through mountains of data
and pick out these subtle patterns in human behavior,
patterns that we, as humans, might completely miss.
Hmm, okay, I'm listening.
Like, imagine AI that can actually help us understand
why people do the things they do, you know,
in a much deeper way.
Yeah, that's powerful stuff.
And then what?
What do we do with that information?
Well, one thing we talked about was using it to design,
like, way more effective interventions for stuff.
We've touched on some of those already.
Right, right, like addiction, procrastination.
Exactly, or even like helping people make healthier choices,
encouraging them to save more money.
The possibilities are huge, really.
Okay, I'm starting to see the bigger picture here.
So we've got these synthetic research participants,
we've got AI analyzing our every move.
Is there anything AI can't do in this field?
Well, it's funny you should ask that
because one of the experts at LSE,
I think her name was Susan Michie,
she made a really interesting point.
What was that?
She basically said, yeah, AI has crazy potential,
but we can't, like, put all our eggs in one basket, you know?
Oh, interesting, so it's not a magic bullet.
Exactly.
She actually used this analogy.
She said it's like a carpenter who's so psyched
about his new power saw that he forgets
about all the other tools he has.
Okay, I get it.
We can't let AI blind us to other important aspects
of, you know, being human.
Right, like we still don't fully understand
how people make those big life-altering changes, right?
The kind of stuff we were talking about before,
like quitting smoking or going vegan
or deciding to live a more minimalist lifestyle.
Which, by the way, are exactly the kinds of changes we need
if we're gonna tackle huge issues like climate change.
It's like, we're so busy trying to predict
what people will click on next
that we forget about the bigger picture.
100%, and speaking of the bigger picture,
there's another crucial factor we gotta consider.
Let's hear it.
The environmental impact of all this.
You know, all this amazing AI development.
Oh, right, because like, training those massive AI models
requires a ton of energy, right?
Yeah, exactly, and it's something we,
you know, it's something we can't ignore.
AI might have the potential to help us fix
some of the world's biggest problems,
but we have to be smart about it,
mindful of the resources it needs.
Right, gotta make sure the cure isn't worse
than the disease.
Yeah!
It's a lot to wrap your head around, isn't it?
AI could be the key to like,
unlocking all these amazing things,
but it could also make things a lot worse
if we're not careful.
It really is a tightrope walk.
The future of AI, it's not set in stone, you know?
It's something we're all like, actively creating.
Yeah, with every choice we make.
So where do we go from here?
How do we ensure that AI is actually used for good?
That it doesn't become, you know,
just another tool for manipulating people
or like, destroying the planet?
Well, there are a lot of ideas thrown around,
but one that stuck with me,
I think it was from Oliver Hauser.
He said, we need to stop thinking about AI
as some kind of like, magical solution.
Oh, interesting.
What should we be thinking of it as?
He said we should think of it more like a new medication.
Like, it needs to go through rigorous testing
before we unleash it on the world.
Yeah, exactly.
We need to do the research, understand the benefits,
the risks, you know, the whole nine yards
before we fully incorporate it into our lives.
Yeah, that makes sense.
We wouldn't just start mass producing some new drug
without understanding the side effects, right?
Right, exactly.
And we need clear guidelines, regulations, the whole thing,
just like we do with any other powerful tool, really.
So it's not just about the technology.
It's about us, right?
Like humans and how we choose to use it.
We need to be careful, think ahead,
all that good stuff.
Absolutely, and that's where behavioral science comes in.
It's like essential, really.
How so?
Because if we really understand human psychology,
we can design these AI systems to be, you know,
not just effective, but ethical,
aligned with our values, not just some, you know,
some scary out of control thing.
Okay, yeah, that makes sense.
So it's not AI versus humans.
It's AI working with humans, right,
to like achieve some greater good.
Exactly, it's a team effort,
and it's gonna take, you know, ongoing dialogue,
careful consideration, all of that.
It's like we're building this crazy powerful tool, right?
And we need to make sure we have the instruction manual
to go with it.
Totally, and part of that manual, I think,
is understanding how AI could be, you know,
designed to kind of play us, like tap into our weaknesses.
Right, like our tendency to trust a friendly face
or follow the crowd, all that good stuff.
Exactly, we have to be so aware of that,
especially as AI gets, you know,
more and more integrated into our lives.
Okay, so how do we do that?
How do we make sure it's a force for good,
not some slippery slope to, like, I don't know, dystopia?
Well, for one, we can design these systems
to like encourage critical thinking.
Imagine an AI that not only tries to persuade you,
but also prompts you to question stuff,
look at different sides.
I like that.
So instead of just telling you what to think,
it helps you think for yourself.
Yes, and the experts at the LSE,
they were really big on transparency.
Like people deserve to know how these algorithms work,
how they're shaping their choices.
Right, but there's a balance, right?
Too much information could be overwhelming.
It's like, who actually reads those terms and conditions?
Exactly, and that's where, you know,
understanding human behavior comes in again.
We can design these systems so they're transparent,
but also user-friendly,
no more hiding behind legalese, you know?
I am all for that.
This has been such a fascinating conversation,
but honestly, I feel like we've only
just scratched the surface here.
Me too, the possibilities, the challenges,
it's all still unfolding.
But one thing's for sure,
the future of AI is like totally bound up
with how well we understand ourselves.
And that's something we're all figuring out together
every single day.
So to our listeners,
next time you see that perfectly targeted ad
or scroll through your personalized newsfeed,
remember there's probably some really sophisticated AI
behind it.
But also remember, we're not just along for the ride.
We have a say in how this technology shapes our world.
It's a two-way street.
We're shaping AI and it's shaping us.
It really makes you think.
So we wanna hear from you.
If you could ask an AI anything about human behavior,
what would it be?
Head over to our website, find us on social media,
let us know.
Until next time, keep exploring,
keep asking questions and keep diving deep.