In the Age of AI, the Most Expensive Luxury Is - Human Service

The emergence of generative AI has lowered the barrier for people to use related technologies, enabling many tasks to be accomplished effectively. The development of this artificial intelligence technology allows people to more easily use and apply it in various fields, including speech recognition, natural language processing, and image recognition. Whether in work or daily life, generative AI has become an indispensable part of people's lives.

However, with the popularization of AI technology, human-centric services and experiences have consequently become more valuable and appealing.

In 2013, Kevin Hartz, a board member and venture capitalist at the U.S. event management company Eventbrite, predicted: "Live experiences will be the new luxury." At the time, online shopping was just emerging. Items that previously required in-person purchase could now be bought from home via the internet. While convenient, this also reduced the satisfaction people derived from shopping. This led to common goods like shoes and woks becoming cheaper, while rare physical experiences like concerts saw their prices soar. With the advancement of technology and the popularization of the internet, people's demand for physical experiences is growing. Whether it's concerts, performances, exhibitions, or sporting events, these activities offer a unique charm that people cannot fully experience through a screen. Compared to online shopping, participating in real, live events enriches people's spiritual world and emotional experiences more effectively.

Live experiences, in turn, have become a new luxury and an important part of people's daily lives. Compared to online shopping, people are more eager to participate in real activities and gain unique feelings and experiences through first-hand participation. Whether it's concerts, sporting events, or art exhibitions, these physical activities not only satisfy people's spiritual needs but also enrich their lives. Consequently, the value of live experiences is constantly increasing.

From an educational perspective, Khan Academy and OpenAI have partnered to use AI to assist teachers in creating more personalized lesson plans, providing students with a richer educational experience. This collaboration has garnered widespread attention as it foreshadows the widespread application of AI in future education.

Concurrently, many tech executives in Silicon Valley are choosing to send their children to human-centric learning environments. One such high school in California, The Menlo School, particularly emphasizes interaction and relationships between students and teachers, with a ratio of 10:1. Annual tuition fees amount to $58,000-$60,000, yet many parents still insist on sending their children to this school.

The advent of generative AI teachers has also sparked discussions about the role of educators and future educational trends. Some believe that generative AI teachers will replace the work of traditional teachers, while others argue that AI is merely an auxiliary tool capable of providing a better teaching experience but cannot completely replace the role of human teachers.

Regarding the medical needs of affluent family members, even with Google DeepMind's Med-PaLM 2 available to answer medical-related questions, they still prefer to seek help from the top doctors in the field. This may be because these affluent families are more willing to pay extra fees to ensure they receive the highest level of medical care and expertise.

Affluent family members have higher expectations for doctors' professional knowledge and experience. They might believe that only under the guidance of top-tier physicians can they receive the most accurate and effective diagnoses and treatments. Even with the extraordinary advancements in AI technology in the medical field, some people still harbor doubts about its reliability and accuracy.

Furthermore, Amazon announced its acquisition of One Medical last year, primarily because they value its human-centric services and technology. One Medical is renowned for its remote or in-person consultation services provided to patients, which focus on delivering excellent healthcare experiences and personalized care.

In conclusion, while AI technology has brought tremendous progress across various fields, human-centered physical services have paradoxically become even more valuable.