Humans
behind AI
Rory Walsh
Distinguished Engineer
Dublin, Ireland
Rory Walsh
Distinguished Engineer
Dublin, Ireland
I have a spiritual connection with the ocean and a love for creative arts
I think there’s something important about the pursuit of inner peace. I find mine by the ocean, whether surfing or swimming in the sea, a stone’s throw from my home in Ireland. My beach time helps me shut out the noisy parts of my life and focus on what’s important. Connecting spiritually with the ocean and the planet is a uniquely human experience—AI will never be able to replicate that.
If you want to meet the best version of me, find me at the beach. Whenever I can, I grab my surfboard and head down to the Atlantic coast near my home in southern Ireland.
The ocean offers a place to connect with what’s elemental. Sometimes, I slip into an almost meditative state where catching a wave feels like an indulgence. Just drifting there gives me a new perspective and time to think about what’s important. I recognize having this space away from a very noisy world is a huge privilege.
The ocean offers a place to connect with what’s elemental
Sharing time in the water with friends is a gentle reminder of the importance of joy, letting go, and giving.
I bring these values to work. I trust my team. We use data science to solve problems, but we must put that into a system that people will enjoy using. It’s about making life better for the user. I don’t try to control every aspect of a project, but I make sure I’m very clear about what matters and then leave my team to approach the challenge in their own way.
My team might be surprised that some of my management skills were gained on stage. Theater has been a big part of my life —I still make time to do some now. My school music teacher remains a bit of a hero to me. He gave me opportunities and made me push myself, helping me realize my potential. I learned how incredibly valuable it is to have someone who is important to you believe in you. Now that I’m a bit older, I try to repay this.
I’m very protective of the creative arts, and there’s this big question now about AI replacing human creativity. I can’t see that happening in theater. Sure, an AI could write a play, but would it be any good? Would it connect? I’m not so sure. Theater is a deeply human experience.
With art forms like photography and writing, I think we’ll see a two-tier system where the basic work becomes commoditized, and there’s a real premium on original work created by people.
Only people can make genuinely new art reflecting how it feels to be human, what it means to be on this planet and be sentient and connected with nature and the Earth.
A machine may imitate that—but it will never create it. AI will never be able to communicate what I feel when I drift on the Atlantic swell off a deserted beach on the southern tip of Ireland.
Rory's photos were taken in Tramore, Ireland.
Only people can make genuinely new art that reflects how it feels to be human.
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