Getting More Life from Life

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As AI-powered robots become more sophisticated and capable, one has to wonder: Is there anything we can do that a robot will never be able to do?

They can think quicker. They can drive cars more safely, diagnose illnesses more accurately, beat grandmasters at chess, write great essays, answer questions instantly, translate between languages flawlessly, and remember everything they've ever encountered.

But there's one thing they cannot do:

They cannot act differently than their code. Even if they write their own code, they are bound to act in accordance with it. A robot is forever bound by the limitations of its code.

In contrast, we can override our natural coding. We can overcome our impulses, our natural drives, our pursuit of pleasure, our avoidance of pain—if we so decide. We can overcome social pressure and the allure of comfort, social acceptance, convenience, physical gratification, and status when we choose to advance a higher interest.

This is what makes us uniquely human. But more than that—this is what makes us truly alive.

We're fully alive when we exercise our free will.

Otherwise, we're running on autopilot, sophisticated biological programming, but programming nonetheless.

I know this from my own experience. When I didn't feel like helping out, or going back to the store for my wife, or getting up so early, going for a workout, or watching my diet—after doing it anyway, I always felt more vitalized and alive.

This is how we get more life out of life.