And Here’s Why…
By: Bill May
AI can crunch a million data points in seconds. It still can’t tell a junior tech why a 0.003″ tolerance drift killed last quarter’s margins.
The interaction between AI, Knowledge, Wisdom and Mentoring are subjects worthy of additional analysis.
Intelligence-Knowledge-Wisdom
AI and its impact on everything seem to have an omnipresence in media today. Data Centers, education, training, employment levels, competitiveness, GDP and human psychological stability all seem to be impacted by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
It is imperative that we take a step back, analyze what is happening and take some of the anxiety out of this subject.
Utilizing some AI myself, let’s start with this:
Intelligence, Knowledge, and Wisdom: These three concepts are often discussed together but represent distinct aspects of human cognition and capability.
Intelligence:
The ability to learn, reason, solve problems, adapt to new situations, and process information quickly and effectively. It’s raw cognitive horsepower.
The engine of a car (power and speed).
Knowledge:
The accumulation of facts, information, theories, and experiences. It’s what you know.
The fuel in the tank (what powers action).
Wisdom:
The application of knowledge with insight, judgment, ethics, and foresight. It’s knowing when and how to use what you know.
The driver (who steers toward the right destination).
Why AI Can’t Do Wisdom
It is likely that Artificial Intelligence can and will lead to Artificial Knowledge, but highly unlikely, I would say impossible, to lead to Artificial Wisdom. As a matter of fact, if you search for “Artificial Wisdom” on an AI platform, this is a typical result:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot equate to wisdom—not in the full human sense—and likely never will, even with unbounded scaling of intelligence or knowledge.
Yudkowsky’s breakdown of why, structured around the core components of wisdom and AI’s fundamental limits.
These five limits explain why AI alone leaves money on the table in manufacturing.
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- Wisdom Requires Lived Experience & Subjective Consciousness
- Wisdom Involves Ethical Judgment Beyond Optimization
- Wisdom Transcends Knowledge & Intelligence
- Can AI Ever “Grow” Wisdom?
- Even if AI simulates aging, relationships, or “regret” in a virtual world, it remains performance, not experience.
(Originates from a post on X (formerly Twitter) by user @ESYudkowsky)
So what does this all mean?
In simple terms, for Artificial Intelligence to be useful it must be coupled with Human Wisdom. AI can allow us to process data and information quicker but in itself cannot provide wisdom. No machine has provided wisdom yet—because wisdom still travels mouth-to-ear on the shop floor.
Mentoring = Wisdom Transmission
Mentoring is a developmental relationship in which a more experienced or knowledgeable individual (the mentor) provides guidance, support, advice, and feedback to a less experienced person (the mentee) to help them grow personally and professionally.
So how does someone transmit “wisdom” to another person? In my experience in the manufacturing world it is via Mentoring.
How HVM Does It
Our mission since our founding nearly 15 years ago has been to provide highly-experienced consultancy services focused on delivering profitable manufacturing performance based on quality products, improved throughput, and cost-effective operations. Mentoring is one of those skill sets.
The operative phrase in our mission, as with wisdom, is highly-experienced.
The transition from Intelligence to Knowledge to Wisdom is through human experience.
When you work with our contractors you will find an abundance of human manufacturing wisdom…..that is why AI does not frighten us. It is merely another tool in our very large toolbox. Our 11+1 Quality Management Strategies utilized numerous times to resolve quality and throughput issues with our clients is an example.
Likewise, at HVM we have the necessary skill sets to mentor your less experienced employees. That in essence is how AI will help your organization; when you find a means to convert AI into applicable Wisdom. In the end, AI accelerates intelligence and knowledge, but mentoring unlocks wisdom. At HVM, we’re bridging that gap—turning your data into profitable decisions.
What’s one way you’re blending AI insights with mentor guidance?
Reply below or email.
Let’s chat: info@highvaluemanufacturingconsulting.com
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HVM utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a research tool when developing company communications. Often this research will include the use of Large Language Models (LLM). It is a company policy that all such research be adjusted, modified, and edited utilizing our own personal Human Intelligence (HI) or wisdom to assure the appropriate and most accurate message is being communicated to our Clients. HVM will always specify when AI/LLM were used when generating content.