
If you are seeking a wonderfully foundational book about the origins and nature of artificial intelligence (AI), an insightful explanation awaits you in The Worlds I See by Dr. Fei-Fei Li. Dr. Li is a computer scientist and distinguished scholar at Stanford University who brings first-hand knowledge to the story of the development of AI. She was one of the foundational scientists in the emergence of AI but she presents that saga in the context of her personal journey as an immigrant in the United States, making for a compellingly warm, engaging story about a complex scientific topic, a rare combination. But that’s not the subject of this column.
The earliest stages of the development of AI were rooted in the fundamental structure and functioning of the human brain. The question was, could non-human computers hope to replicate the wildly vast and amazing, often mysterious capabilities of the human brain? How does that human brain work, even? Dr. Li traces the development of the human brain to what is known as the Cambrian Explosion, an evolutionary event that occurred well over 500 million years ago. The Cambrian Explosion is believed to be the origins of the most primitive forms of mammalian, and thus human vision, and thus perception. It turns out that vision itself propelled brain development. Perhaps surprising to those of us who are not accomplished computer scientists, the nature and performance of human vision and perception are the crucial ingredients in AI. You will need to read Dr. Li’s book to understand why but, trust me, it’s true.
The crucial role of vision and perception in the development of the brain, and thus in the structuring of AI as it currently exists, is the key idea that propels this column. And there are at least two meanings to explore in applying this topic to our world of workplace design. Vision as a literal human sensory capacity and vision as a metaphor. And I would suggest that both are relevant for clear and constructive focus on both AI and the workplace of the future, two pretty important topics for us.
Vision as a sensory capacity, as it turns out, helped propel the development of the human brain and it is the origin of the most basic forms of cognition. Think about that. Seeing and perceiving sparked (literally, because they are neurons) our human brains to grow from a relatively undefined mass of tissue into an amazingly networked and largely underutilized powerhouse of thought, insight, imagination, and innovation. Not only did vision spark the development of the brain, but there is also every reason to believe that vision and perception continue to be powerful forces in our ongoing cognitive development. The more we see and the better we perceive, then the more we should experience expanded brain development. In theory, anyway.
It should stop us in our tracks and remind us to pay attention to what we are seeing. From these words you’re reading to the setting around you to the people who pass into and through your field of vision, seeing and perceiving are fuel for brain growth. It should remind us to pay more mindful attention to what we are seeing, to be more deliberate in what we are perceiving around us, to remember that these acts of seeing are nourishment for cognitive development in our heads. If AI is propelled by vast databases of stored perceptions, that means we are also empowered by those same perceptions to expand our thought processes, our cognitive capabilities, our imaginations, and our capacity for innovation. AI isn’t the only force being exerted on our world. Let’s use vision and perception to be a force for progress.
And this should be especially true for the places where we work. As designers, are we crafting spaces that will spark perceptions that fuel cognitive growth in the people who spend time there? This is not just about shapes and colors and materials that fit an acceptable palette, but instead it’s about creating spaces that catch the attention of the eyes, that prompt perceptions of contrast and complementarity, that inspire ideas and amplify imagination. It’s way beyond what we too commonly think of as “just aesthetics.”
Vision as a metaphor is also a powerful tool for cognitive growth. In these days of wide-ranging questions about the very nature of work and its role in our lives (heard of the term “workism”?), the tools that will enable it (especially generative AI), and the places where it will happen (hybrid, RTO, etc.), it is crucial to bring and expansive and perceptive vision to these conversations. There is a reason that over the years the opposite of an expansive and perceptive vision has been called “having blinders on”. It may be very important to be skeptical of anyone advancing an approach to the workplace of today and tomorrow that encourages people to have blinders on, to see things only one way, to have a limited vision. This would include how we configure physical spaces, how we limit the behaviors and practices of the work force, and even how we might implement AI systems.
Rapidly developing technologies such as AI, can create uncertainty about the future of work and the workplaces where many of us spend our lives. Remembering that our vision and cognitive abilities remain the most central and most powerful elements in human existence can ground us for making the most constructive decisions for our futures.