Reawaken curiosity in the age of AI | Karolina Juszczak | TEDxUniversity of Lodz

Key Concepts

• Curiosity: An eager wish to know or learn about something; characterized by open-mindedness, willingness to ask questions for insights, presence, engagement, and an attitude of "I don't know, but I want to find out."
• Homo Inquisitivous: A proposed alternative name for humanity, emphasizing curiosity as a defining trait over wisdom.
• Technology's Impact on Curiosity: The potential for technology, particularly social media scrolling, to numb wonder and block curiosity through mindless consumption and reliance on AI for answers without reflection.
• Reawakening Curiosity: A three-ingredient recipe: bravery (disconnecting from distractions), presence (observing and noticing), and action (following questions and seeking answers).
• Sharing Curiosity: The idea that curiosity grows when exchanged through conversations and interactions.
• Outcomes of Curiosity: Not fixed, but can lead to well-being, purpose, connection, new ideas, relationships, discoveries, and an appreciation for everyday beauty.

The Power of Curiosity: A Journey from Distraction to Engagement

The speaker begins by reflecting on a personal experience that highlighted the erosion of curiosity in adulthood, particularly due to technology. While traveling home from university, drained and mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, the speaker was struck by a young boy's incessant, wonder-filled questions about the world around him. This encounter served as a stark contrast to the speaker's own disengagement, prompting a realization of how easily technology can diminish our sense of wonder and presence.

The Innate Human Trait of Curiosity

The transcript argues that curiosity is an innate human trait, present from early childhood, and fundamental to learning, growth, creation, and discovery. It is presented as the driving force behind humanity's greatest inventions and innovations, from prehistoric humans sparking the first flames to travelers crossing oceans and scientists pursuing understanding. The speaker proposes that humanity might be better described as "homo inquisitivous" (the curious human) rather than "homo sapiens" (the wise human), as curiosity is a born trait, not a learned skill, and is the "mainstay of human development."

Definition of Curiosity:

• Cambridge Dictionary: "an eager wish to know or learn about something."
• Speaker's Personal Definition: Open-mindedness, willingness to ask questions for insights (not just answers), being present and engaged, and adopting an attitude of "I don't know, but I want to find out."

Addressing the "Curiosity Killed the Cat" Saying

The speaker acknowledges the common idiom "curiosity killed the cat" but counters it by emphasizing that curiosity must be paired with respect. This respect extends to others, context, and boundaries, ensuring that curiosity is not intrusive or nosy but rather constructive. The speaker prefers a lesser-known continuation of the saying: "Curiosity killed the cat. But satisfaction brought it back." This highlights the positive outcomes that can arise from pursuing curiosity. The speaker uses their own experience of being inspired by an event to eventually speak on stage as an example of how curiosity can lead to action and fulfillment.

The Decline of Curiosity and its Causes

The transcript explores why curiosity diminishes as we age. Several factors are identified:

• Routines: Falling into predictable routines (same commute, groceries, tasks) can block curiosity as we stop questioning the familiar.
• Forming Opinions: As we develop opinions, we tend to stop questioning them, accepting them as "how it's always been done." This leads to replacing "why" with "whatever."
• Technology: The pervasive use of technology, particularly social media, is a significant factor. The speaker illustrates this with a striking statistic:
  • Average daily scrolling time: 108 minutes.
  • Scroll distance: Approximately 30 cm every 5 seconds.
  • Daily thumb travel: 389 meters.
  • Weekly scrolling distance: 2.7 kilometers.
  • Scrolling distance over ~23 days: Approximately 9,000 meters (equivalent to the height of Mount Everest). This "stump Himalaya" achievement is presented ironically, as the content consumed is often mindless and unexamined. We ask AI for answers but rarely reflect, and we copy-paste without verification, leading to curiosity being blocked rather than fueled by technology.

A Recipe for Reawakening Curiosity

The speaker offers a practical "recipe" to reawaken curiosity:

1. Be Brave:

   • Action: Put away your phone, silence distractions, and step away from technological noise.
   • Reason: Curiosity needs time to breathe and simmer.

2. Be Present:

   • Action: Look around, observe with wonder, notice sights, sounds, and smells. This involves not just looking but noticing, and not just listening but hearing.
   • Example: The speaker recounts a profound moment in a crowded metro station in Valencia after a difficult goodbye. A stranger, noticing the speaker's distress, offered a simple, kind word: "It will be all right." This act of presence and bravery deeply impacted the speaker.

3. Act:

   • Action: Treat curiosity as a compass. When a question arises, don't let it vanish. Follow it by searching, experimenting, and asking.

4. Share (Cherry on Top):

   • Action: Start conversations, approach others, and ask questions.
   • Reason: Curiosity grows when it is exchanged.

The Transformative Potential of Curiosity

When curiosity is guided by empathy and intention, it can unlock unforeseen opportunities. The transcript suggests that curiosity can:

• Boost well-being.
• Provide a sense of purpose.
• Connect us to others, leading to new conversations, meaningful exchanges, friendships, relationships, and potentially breakthroughs or life-changing discoveries.
• Lead to significant achievements like a Nobel Prize, or simply enhance the enjoyment of life and the appreciation of everyday beauty.

The outcomes of curiosity are not predetermined but depend on how we act upon it.

A Challenge to the Audience

The speaker concludes with a challenge: to be present and act like a child who constantly asks "why." The audience is encouraged to carry their curiosity into the world outside the room. The core message is that "Curiosity is like a muscle. And if you don't use it, you simply lose it. And we cannot afford to lose it because without curiosity, we go nowhere." The speaker emphasizes the profound impact of simple questions: "A simple why can change your day. A simple what if can change your life." The final question prompts self-reflection on presence and whether curiosity has been reawakened.