Inside a radical new project to democratize AI and the future of design: What skills do we need to compete against the machines?

Inside a radical new project to democratize AI and the future of design: What skills do we need to compete against the machines?

In recent years, the development of large language models (LLMs) has been a hot topic in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). These models, such as OpenAI's GPT-3 and Google's LaMDA, have shown great potential in natural language processing tasks. However, the accessibility and transparency of these models have been a concern for many researchers and developers.

That's where a project called BigScience comes in. BigScience aims to democratize AI by creating a large language model called BLOOM (BigScience Large Open-science Open-access Multilingual Language Model) that is designed to be transparent and accessible to anyone. Unlike other LLMs, BLOOM's creators, a team of over 1,000 volunteer researchers coordinated by AI startup Hugging Face, have shared details about the data it was trained on, the challenges in its development, and the way they evaluated its performance.

One of the biggest selling points of BLOOM is its ease of access. Now that it's live, anyone can download it and tinker with it free of charge on Hugging Face's website. This allows AI developers to use the model as a foundation to build their own applications. With 176 billion parameters, BLOOM is even bigger than OpenAI's GPT-3, offering similar levels of accuracy and toxicity. This openness and accessibility mark a departure from the usual practices of big tech companies that restrict the use of their models by outsiders.

The issue of transparency and accessibility in AI models is not limited to language models. The future of design is also being shaped by AI, raising questions about the skills designers will need to compete against machines. Carl Benedikt Frey's and Michael A. Osborne's study on the future of employment highlights three factors that impact the level of risk of automation in different fields: perception and manipulation, creative intelligence, and social intelligence.

In design, AI systems are already deconstructing massive data sets of images and objects to inform algorithmic designers on ways to manipulate compositions, form, and texture. The combination of deep learning systems and codified heuristics means that many perceptual activities traditionally associated with human designers can be replaced by AI. However, creative intelligence, the ability to come up with valuable and clever ideas, is still a challenge for AI. Computers can generate design variations endlessly, but they struggle to challenge themselves with creative questions and evaluate the value of their solutions.

Similarly, jobs that require high social intelligence, such as public relations or acting, are unlikely to be replaced by automation in the near future. Social intelligence is at the core of human-centered design, as great designers possess a deep understanding of culture and humanity. While AI can excel in tasks with clear rules and measurable obstacles, complex perception and reaction to environmental obstacles still require human expertise.

So, what skills do we need to compete against the machines in the future of design? It seems that honing our creative intelligence and social intelligence will be crucial. These are the areas where AI struggles the most and where human designers can bring unique insights and perspectives. By combining our understanding of culture and humanity with AI's computational power, we can create innovative and meaningful designs.

In conclusion, the democratization of AI and the future of design are closely linked. Projects like BigScience and models like BLOOM are challenging the traditional practices of big tech companies by offering transparency and accessibility. On the other hand, the skills needed to compete against AI in design revolve around creative intelligence and social intelligence. By leveraging our unique human abilities, we can stay ahead of the machines and create designs that truly connect with people.

Actionable advice:

1. Embrace transparency and accessibility in AI: Consider adopting a more open approach to AI development and sharing details about your models' data, challenges, and evaluation process.
2. Cultivate creative intelligence: Continuously challenge yourself to come up with valuable and clever ideas, and explore new ways of solving design problems. Embrace research, understanding, and diverse perspectives to fuel your creativity.
3. Foster social intelligence: Develop a deep understanding of culture and humanity to create designs that resonate with people. Consider the social impact of your designs and prioritize empathy, negotiation, and adaptability in your work.

In the ever-evolving landscape of AI and design, it's important to stay informed, adaptable, and open to new possibilities. By combining the power of AI with our uniquely human skills, we can shape a future where technology enhances our creativity and empowers us to create meaningful designs.