Between You and AI

9Trust

IMAGINE A DESERTED island in the middle of the ocean—remote, barren, with little more than a few wind-battered trees and nowhere near enough resources to sustain life. One morning, the tide washes ashore two unlikely castaways, survivors of a nearby shipwreck: a human and a monkey. Unlike Robinson Crusoe, who found companionship in another human, Friday, this story begins with a person—but with a very different kind of loyal companion.

Picture the scenario and reflect for a moment: If you had to place a bet on which of the two would survive longer on the deserted island—the human or the monkey—who would you choose? If your money is on the human, I will say this: you have an admirable level of faith in humanity. But if I had to guess, you would probably bet on the monkey—and honestly, so would I.

The monkey, even on its own, is far better equipped to survive in such a harsh environment, and, trusting its instincts, it actually stands a real chance. The human, on the other hand—stripped of tools, shelter, and most important, community—would struggle. Alone, without the support structures that usually surround us, the odds turn grim, and in a battle for survival, the monkey will surely win.

By the way, this is not just an opinion—it is backed by research. Anthropologists and sociologists have shown time and again that, taken individually, humans are surprisingly bad at survival, while most other animals are better equipped to fend for themselves in the wild. They have claws, ...