Artificial intelligence, human intelligence and hybrid intelligence based on mutual augmentation

TLDR

There is little consensus on what AI systems may or may not embrace, and this conceptual ambiguity risks misinterpretation and abuse among researchers, practitioners, and users. The article argues that comparing and contrasting AI with human intelligence is an effective way to delineate the concept of AI. The authors examine the unique capabilities of humans and AI, distinguishing two types of AI—those that surpass human intelligence and those inherently tied to it—by exploring human and machine tacit knowledge. The study concludes that humans and AI can augment each other’s capabilities through synergistic interactions, producing hybrid intelligence and outlines a future research agenda.

Abstract

There is little consensus on what artificial intelligence (AI) systems may or may not embrace. Although this may point to multiplicity of interpretations and backgrounds, a lack of conceptual clarity could thwart the development of common ground around the concept among researchers, practitioners and users of AI and pave the way for misinterpretation and abuse of the concept. This article argues that one of the effective ways to delineate the concept of AI is to compare and contrast it with human intelligence. In doing so, the article broaches the unique capabilities of humans and AI in relation to one another (human and machine tacit knowledge), as well as two types of AI systems: one that goes beyond human intelligence and one that is necessarily and inherently tied to it. It finally highlights how humans and AI can augment their capabilities and intelligence through synergistic human–AI interactions (i.e., human-augmented AI and augmented human intelligence), resulting in hybrid intelligence, and concludes with a future-looking research agenda.