If I give you someone's mobile phone, can you know their personality?!'

- About you and me - Hansal Bhachech

- As machines become smarter, we become more mechanical. As machines become more and more powerful in serving us ready meals, our learning and skills are diminishing as a result. We are the ones who make the machine think. It doesn't matter if we lose it, but if we stop learning, those days will come.

A computer engineer came to me for one of his artificial intelligence projects. It was stuck in the algorithm of a psychology based app. After his work was done in all three visits, when he came to express his gratitude, we had many other conversations. During that time he asked me a question 'If I give you someone's mobile, can you know their personality from it?!'

As a psychiatrist I'm used to wa teasers like 'yes, quite a few inferences can be drawn from the content on mobile but how judgmental remains a question of course.' I gave a balanced answer.

'Suppose to know that stuff without funkosya?!' Ma asked, intending to confuse me a bit more.

'Yes, I can even get estimates and that too using a matter of your field' Now that's confusing!

'But how ?!' His curiosity was at its peak. I was silent for a few moments as he became eager to hear the answer, then softly said 'Machine learning.'

'Machine learning?!' He became more eager to know the answer. 'But how ?!'

I said, 'Type paragraphs related to different fields on his mobile and guess what words his keyboard suggests'.

He kept looking at me in surprise as he would not have thought of such a thing. I went on to say 'For example, if you try typing the first three letters of some profanity and the keyboard suggests the same profanity, it can be inferred that the mobile user is excessively loud, belligerent, angry or sexting.'

'Speaking strongly, where did you get that?!' He was still surprised.

I said 'Human learning! I saw what my phone was learning from me and naturally thought about it, and that's why it clicked now.' And then our discussion turned to the human brain and machine learning.

Modern technology is now hard to imagine without machine learning. Everything from your home appliances like TV, fridge, washing machine etc. to Siri, Alexa, self-driving car learns from your habits, tastes, preferences, habits etc. and changes accordingly. Every data, input or usage is important for its learning. Day by day all these machines become smart learners and learn more and better.

Second, as machines become smarter, we become mechanical. As machines become more and more powerful in serving us ready meals, our learning and skills are diminishing as a result. We are becoming more and more dependent on technology and now without it our car does not run. Generations that speak half and basic numbers by mouth are disappearing and people who can't even do the sum of seven without a calculator are growing! We are forgetting that we are the one who thinks the machine, it is not good that it will stop us but if we stop learning then those days will come.

Now you think, if modern tools with such a limited capacity to learn are bringing big changes in our daily life, what can't the brain with unlimited capacity to learn?! Our brains also learn from our own and others' experiences, our history, inputs from each of the senses, etc. Some of this learning happens automatically, but most importantly, learning that transforms thoughts and lives happens through reflection. And, this is the difference between machine learning and human learning! Machines don't think and learn only based on data and algorithms, whereas humans have their own infinite intelligence that can continuously evolve to learn. Unfortunately, most of the individuals avoid exerting the brain to develop in this direction, not taking the wrong load!! In sum, a less capable machine learns more and we stop learning. Learning ability, learning ability and learning ability are different things. Let me clarify my point about human learning by giving the example of medical field and doctors.

Every doctor gets experience from treating each of his patients but not all can convert that experience into their talent or sixth sense in the same way. Analytical mind, habit of reflecting on each patient, good combination power, concentration, spirituality, non-commercial approach etc. play a role for this. In cases where others could not give results, sometimes such experts give results! Heaps of such examples can be given in every field, things may seem simple and small but their effects in life are very big and important. In my view, a person who learns from reading, experiences, practices and ideas is important, relationships and practices with him give you a lot. Growing up without learning is a sign of wasted life. Reflect on your experiences and those of others to keep life moving and vibrant, keep updating your understanding and thoughts with the wisdom derived from them, then watch your better version continue to launch with age. Your talents will flourish, and those associated with you will get an inspiration.

Full stop:

There is a difference between a senior physician and a mature physician. Senior is a matter of time, while mature is a matter of development!