50 Best Monday Motivation Quotes - Inspiring, Funny Monday Quotes

150 Powerful Hiking Quotes And Captions

A big hike in the great outdoors can leave you breathless.

...And speechless.

The landscapes you witness are just too beautiful to put into words sometimes!

Most of the time, it doesn't matter. But being dumbstruck is the last thing you need when searching for the perfect hiking captions for social media.

For an easy solution, check out these 150 hiking quotes and captions.

BEST HIKING INSTAGRAM QUOTES

I thought I'd start with my favourite hiking quotes for Instagram. Inspiring, enlightening, and adventure-fuelled, I hope you like them as much as I did:

1. "The mountains are calling and I must go." – John Muir

2. "The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot" - Werner Herzog

3. "You're off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way." – Dr. Seuss

4. "An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day." – Henry David Thoreau

5. "You need special shoes for hiking – and a bit of a special soul as well." - Terry Guillemets

6. "Returning home is the most difficult part of long-distance hiking. You have grown outside the puzzle and your piece no longer fits." - Cindy Ross

7. "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." - T.S. Eliot

8. "I am happy out here. Messy hair, dirty feet & wild water on my skin. Out here with the wild things; this is where I belong." — Brooke Hampton

9. "The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep." - Robert Frost

10. "I love going out of my way, beyond what I know, and finding my way back a few extra miles, by another trail, with a compass that argues with the map." — Rebecca Solnit

11. "It had nothing to do with gear or footwear or the backpacking fads or philosophies of any particular era or even with getting from point A to point B. It had to do with how it felt to be in the wild. With what it was like to walk for miles with no reason other than to witness the accumulation of trees and meadows, mountains and deserts, streams and rocks, rivers and grasses, sunrises and sunsets. The experience was powerful and fundamental. It seemed to me that it had always felt like this to be a human in the wild, and as long as the wild existed it would always feel this way." - Cheryl Strayed

12. "It's not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." - Sir Edmund Hillary

13. "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." – Confucius

14. "Walking: the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise." - Carrie Latet

15. "The long-distance hiker, a breed set apart, from the likes of the usual pack. He'll shoulder his gear, be hittin' the trail; long gone, long 'fore he'll be back." – M.J. Eberhart

16. "There really is no correct way to hike the trail, and anyone who insists that there is ought not to worry so much about other people's experiences. Hikers need to hike the trail that's right for them." - Adrienne Hall

17. "We don't stop hiking because we grow old. We grow old because we stop hiking." - Finis Mitchell

18. "I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth.  Then I ask myself the same question." - Harun Yahya

19. "I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than trees." - Henry David Thoreau

20. "After a day's walk, everything has twice its usual value." – G.M. Trevelyan

INSPIRING TREKKING QUOTES

Want to say something inspirational in your latest IG post? These inspiring trekking quotes should do the trick! Check them out…

21. "The summit is what drives us, but the climb itself is what matters." – Conrad Anker

22. "I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it." - Rosalia de Castro

23. "I was amazed that what I needed to survive could be carried on my back. And, most surprising of all, that I could carry it." - Cheryl Strayed

24. "I refuse to let this suffering be for nothing. In fact, I refuse to suffer." I whispered to myself as I pushed each tent stake into the ground. "I can adapt. I am adapting." Another long day was done and I was forty-two miles closer to Canada." - Heather "Anish" Anderson

25. "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail"– Ralph Waldo Emerson

26. "Go out, go out I beg of you and taste the beauty of the wild. Behold the miracle of the earth with all the wonder of a child." — Edna Jaques

27. "I considered my options. There were only two and they were essentially the same. I could go back in the direction I had come from, or I could go forward in the direction I intended to go." - Cheryl Strayed

28. "Trails are routes to remembrance just as they are routes to knowledge." - T.P. Lye

29. "Because in the end, you won't remember the time you spent working in an office or mowing the lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain." – Jack Kerouac

30. "On a hike, the days pass with the wind, the sun, the stars; movement is BEAUTIFUL INSTAGRAM QUOTES FOR HIKING

Beauty's ubiquitous when you head out for a hike. Here are 10 quotes about hiking that are (almost) as beautiful as the sights you see!

31. "I walked slowly to enjoy this freedom, and when I came out of the mountains, I saw the sky over the prairie, and I thought that if heaven was real, I hoped it was a place I never had to go, for this earth was greater than any paradise." - Daniel J. Rice

32. "May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds." – Edward Abbey

33. "Oh, how can I put into words the joys of a walk over country such as this; the scenes that delight the eyes, the blessed peace of mind, the sheer exuberance which fills your soul as you tread the firm turf? This is something to be lived, not read about." - Alfred Wainwright

34. "Hiking is not escapism; it's realism. The people who choose to spend time outdoors are not running away from anything; we are returning to where we belong." – Jennifer Pharr Davis

35. "Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth." — Walt Whitman

36. "And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul." – John Muir

37. "The earth has music for those who listen." -Shakespeare

38. "The danger of adventure is worth a thousand days of ease and comfort." - Paulo Coelho

39. "Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow." – Henry David Thoreau

40. "To be whole. To be complete. Wildness reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we are separate from." - Terry Tempest Williams

INSIGHTFUL HIKING QUOTES FOR INSTAGRAM

Exerting yourself in the great outdoors has a habit of teaching you a thing or two about yourself, the world, and life itself. Here are 10 insightful hiking quotes Instagram users are sure to love:

41. "The more civilized man becomes, the more he needs and craves a great background of forest wildness, to which he may return like a contrite prodigal from the husks of an artificial life." - Ellen Burns Sherman

42. "Each fresh peak ascended teaches something." - Sir Martin Conway

43. 100. "Everything worthwhile is uphill. Everything!" – John Maxwell

44. "If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk." - Raymond Inmon

45. "If everyone in the world took care of each other the way folks do out on the trail, and if everyone approached each day with as much hope and optimism as hikers do, the world would be a better place." — Jon Tullis

46. "There is, of course, a deep spiritual need which the pilgrimage seems to satisfy, particularly for those hardy enough to tackle the journey on foot." – Edwin Mullins

47. "Some beautiful paths can't be discovered without getting lost." — Erol Ozan

48. "Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb." - Greg Child

49. "For hiking is one of those things that you can only do when you have the determination in you." – Unknown

50. "The hills have a power to soothe and heal which is their very own. No man ever sat alone on the top of a hill and planned a murder or a robbery, and no man ever came down from the hills without feeling in some way refreshed, and the better for his experience." - Alfred Wainwright

HIKING QUOTES FOR INSTA ABOUT NATURE

Head out for a hike and you can't help but be blown away by the beauty of Mother Nature. It's often enough to leave you speechless! These quotes should help you find the words you're looking for:

51. "There is a pleasure in the pathless woods. I love not Man the less, but Nature more." - Lord Byron

52. "Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein

53. "The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu

54. "I slow down when hiking. The rhythm of nature is more leisurely. The sun comes up, it moves across the sky, and you begin to synchronize to that rhythm." - John Mackey

55. "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous." — Aristotle

56. "There is nothing worse, after days of falling asleep by a babbling brook and waking up to a choir chirping birds, than to go inside a house with insulated walls and an obstructive roof. This torturous invention, a cage, a box, prevents you from seeing or hearing anything of natural importance. Make time to free yourself and find a bit of nature." - Katherine Keith

57. "I love walking in the woods, along the trails, by the beaches. I love being part of nature. I love walking alone. It is therapy. One needs to be alone, to recharge one's batteries." - Grace Kelly

58. "When we walk into a grove of trees or under an open sky the magic of nature takes over and the heaviness of life lifts a little.' - Natassia Cassinero

59. "To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles." – Mary Davis

60. "The farther one gets into the wilderness, the greater is the attraction of its lonely freedom." - Theodore Roosevelt

HIKING PHOTO CAPTIONS ABOUT MOUNTAINS

Just snapped an epic shot of some mountains on your hike? Check out these mountain Instagram quotes ideas to do it justice:

61. "Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing." – Barry Finlay

62. "Chasing angels or fleeing demons, go to the mountains." - Jeffrey Rasley

63. "Nobody climbs mountains for scientific reasons. Science is used to raise money for the expeditions, but you really climb for the hell of it."  - Sir Edmund Hillary

64. "Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you." - David McCullough Jr.

65. "May your dreams be larger than mountains and may you have the courage to scale their summits." — Harley King

66. "My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing." – Aldous Huxley

67. "In the mountains, you are sometimes invited, sometimes tolerated, and sometimes told to go home." - Fred Beckey

68. "You never climb the same mountain twice, not even in memory. Memory rebuilds the mountain, changes the weather, retells the jokes, remakes all the moves." - Lito Tejada-Flores

69. "No matter how sophisticated you may be, a large granite mountain cannot be denied – it speaks in silence to the very core of your being." - Ansel Adams

70. "Mountains are not stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve, they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion." - Anatoli Boukreev

HIKING QUOTES ABOUT LIFE

Has your latest hike taught you something about yourself and life in general? Well, the upcoming Instagram hiking quotes could be perfect for your post:

71. "Trails are like that: you're floating along in a Shakespearean Arden paradise and expect to see nymphs and flute boys, then suddenly you're struggling in a hot broiling sun of hell in dust and nettles and poison oak…just like life." - Jack Kerouac

72. "The best journeys in life are those that answer questions you never thought to ask." - Rich Ridgeway

73. "Hiking is a bit like life: The journey only requires you to put one foot in front of the other…again and again and again. And if you allow yourself the opportunity to be present throughout the entirety of the trek, you will witness beauty every step of the way, not just at the summit" – Unknown

74. "Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it." - Andy Rooney

75. "Life sucks a lot less when you add mountain air, a campfire and some peace and quiet." — Brooke Hampton

76. "Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread." – Edward Abbey

77. "If you face the rest of your life with the spirit you show on the trail, it will have no choice but to yield the same kind of memories and dreams." - Adrienne Hall

78. "We live in a fast-paced society. Walking slows us down." – Robert Sweetgall

79. "Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity." – John Muir

80. "Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt." – John Muir

SHORT QUOTES FOR HIKING CAPTIONS

Don't want to write an essay? Here are some good hiking quotes for anybody who'd rather keep things short and sweet.

81. "Walking is a man's best medicine." – Hippocrates

82. "There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." - Beverly Sills

83. "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

84. "Where the signposts end, the trail begins." - Marty Rubin

85. "To travel, to experience and learn: that is to live." — Tenzing Norgay

86. "There is always an adventure waiting in the woods." - Katelyn S. Bolds

87. "Hike more, worry less" – Unknown

88. "Leave the roads, take the trails" – Pythagoras

89. "The best view comes after the hardest climb." – Unknown

90. "Not all who wander are lost" – J.R.R. Tolkien

FUNNY HIKING QUOTES

Looking for funny hiking quotes instead? Keep things light-hearted with the following hiking puns…

91. "DEET is nature's cologne." - Every Hiker

92. "Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory." - Ed Viesturs

93. "There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing." – Sir Ranulph Fiennes

94. "If the winter is too cold and the summer is too hot, you are not a hiker." - A Bitter Hiker

95. "You need mountains, long staircases don't make good hikers." — Amit Kalantri

96. "Hiking is just walking where it's okay to pee." - Demetri Martin

97. "When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top." - Anonymous

98. "In the mountains, there are only two grades: You can either do it, or you can't." - Rusty Baillie

99. "Happiness and hiking go hand in hand or foot in boot." – Diane Spicer

50 BEST HIKING CAPTIONS FOR INSTAGRAM

Not everybody wants a hiking quote for Instagram! Check out the following fun hiking captions for IG if you'd rather write something unique to you.

101. There may be no Wi-Fi in the woods, but I promise you'll find a better connection.

102. Hike more. Worry Less.

103. I was born with hiking in my heart.

104. Hiking is my happy place.

105. Life is better with a pair of hiking boots on your feet.

106. High on life as I hike to higher places.

107. Mother Nature's my therapist.

108. Wild and free- exactly how life should be.

109. Taking things one step at a time.

110. It's called the Great Outdoors for a reason…

111. Time to get lost in nature…literally.

112. The wind in my hair. The ground beneath my feet. What more could you want?

113. Mother Nature doing her thing.

114. Another day another summit.

115. I've only gone and done it: conquered another summit.

116. Heart pumping. Legs burning. An epic workout in a wondrous place.

117. Feeling moved by immovable mountains.

118. Any time spent in the Great Outdoors is time well spent.

119. There's no such thing as 'too much fresh air'.

120. Hiking. Exploring. Adventuring. Living.

121. Wandering for the sake of it.

122. Nature calls!

123. They told me to 'take a hike'. So I did.

124. Mile after mile. Day after day. The trail is fast becoming home.

125. Hiking is the ultimate therapy.

126. Sweaty and dirty and totally content.

127. The definition of losing yourself.

128. Happiness = hiking.

129. Take a hike? Don't mind if I do.

130. Describe happiness in four words? Wide open green spaces.

131. Every turn of the trail holds another adventure.

132. Speechless (and breathless!).

133. Wildlife. Trees. Mountains. Waterfalls. Lakes. Fresh air. What more could you want?

134. A life spent hiking is a life well spent.

135. My favorite escape? Nature's playground.

136. Hiking strikes the ideal balance between challenge and beauty.

137. These boots really are made for walking.

138. Fewer heels. More hiking boots.

139. When life starts feeling too tame, go somewhere wild.

140. I found the scenic route.

141. "And I would walk 500 miles…"

142. Feels like walking through a wonderful daydream.

143. The only thing better than hiking is hiing with someone you love.

144. It's better to be kept wild than safe.

145. We're heading for the hills, babe.

146. Hiking is the answer. Who cares about the question?

147. Hiking = introvert heaven.

148. Losing my terrain of thought…

149. Office or trail? I know where I'd rather be.

150. I'm not lost. I'm just exploring.

REMEMBER THESE HIKING QUOTES & HIKING CAPTIONS

Finding words to describe the stunning sights, sensations, and general experience of hiking is easier said than done.

That's bad news when you're trying to write a compelling caption for your latest IG post!

With any luck, the ideas above will help.

Keep these 150 awesome hiking quotes and hiking captions for Instagram in mind and you should be one step closer to the perfect post.

This post first appeared on What's Danny Doing.

100+ Of The Most Savage Roasts That Are Guaranteed To Leave A Mark

In today's culture, roasting has become a form of art, with people exhibiting their wit and humour through creative banters. Although roasting is often done in jest and as a form of entertainment, it is essential to use these savage roasts responsibly and with consideration for the emotions of others.

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Are you wondering how to roast someone? Savage roasting can be a fun and exciting way to engage in banter with friends or acquaintances. You can win arguments against them and make them reconsider their actions the next time they cross your path. Although these savage roasts can leave a lasting impression, it is best to ensure that everyone involved understands and appreciates the lighthearted nature of these banters.

Are there instances when you were engaged in pointless arguments and were compelled to remain speechless and overwhelmed by the situation? It's probably because you were at a loss for words. This savage roasts list can give you some phrases to arm yourself with the next time you get in such a fix.

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Ten most savage roasts

Sometimes, it's best to respond to someone when they pick on you during an argument because if you don't, they will disrespect and belittle you. Here are some of the most savage roasts for such situations.

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Sometimes, I wish I was deaf so your grammar wouldn't bother me so much.

I would like to leave you with one thought, but I wonder if you have anywhere to store it.

Too bad you can't photoshop an ugly personality.

Seriously, your mouth is so foul! Should I offer you a tic-tac or toilet paper?

I'm so jealous of those who haven't met you yet.

Did you fall from heaven? Because so did Satan!

You'd be in good shape if you ran like your mouth.

Who ate your bowl of sunshine this morning, thundercloud?

I'm not here to entertain you. That's what your mirror is for.

Sometimes, it's better to keep your mouth shut and give the impression that you're stupid rather than open it and remove all doubt.

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Savage roasts that hurt

If someone upsets you by being obnoxious, nasty, or rude to you, a savage roast is an excellent way to silence them. The best way to hurt someone who has offended you is to roast them. Here are roasts that hurt.

If you had a brain transplant, it would be an improvement.

It's impressive how you manage to live with such a disappointing personality.

I'd call you a tool, but even tools have some usefulness.

Were you born on a highway? Because that's where most accidents happen.

I'm surprised your mirror hasn't cracked yet.

Is your body from McDonald's? Because I love to hate it.

It's a shame your personality doesn't match your Instagram filters.

If stupidity were a profession, you'd be the CEO.

Your face is proof that evolution can go in reverse.

Were you always this dumb, or did you take special classes?

I'm not saying you're a hot mess, but even a dumpster fire looks better than you.

The best part about you is still running down your parents' leg.

I'd slap you, but I don't want to be accused of animal cruelty.

Your face could turn Medusa to stone.

Your face makes onions cry.

I'd challenge you to a battle of wits, but you appear unarmed.

You should carry a plant around to replace the oxygen you waste.

The only way you'll ever get a six-pack is if someone buys it for you.

If ignorance were a superpower, you'd be a modern superhero.

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Savage roasts for haters

Some people are haters; you can know this by how they talk about you. If someone is hateful towards you, here are a few savage roasts for them.

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You're so boring you could make a sloth fall asleep.

I'd insult you, but it looks like nature beat me to it.

The ocean called; they're running out of shrimp and want you back.

I'm not saying you're ugly; I'm just saying you have a face only a mother could love.

If stupidity were an art form, you'd be Picasso.

Did wolves raise you? Because your manners are truly animalistic.

You're not pretty enough to be this stupid.

You're so fake; Barbie is jealous.

I would explain it to you, but I don't have any crayons.

I'm sorry if my brutal honesty inconveniences your delicate sensibilities.

I'm glad to see you're not letting your education get in the way of your ignorance.

Your IQ test came back negative.

You're impossible to underestimate.

If I wanted to kill myself, I would climb your ego and jump to your IQ.

The last time I saw someone like you, I flushed it.

I'd sue my parents if I had a face like yours.

Roses are red, violets are blue, and God made us beautiful, but what happened to you?

If you're the answer, then I must be asking the wrong questions.

I'm not saying you're stupid; you have bad luck when thinking.

It's remarkable how you've mastered the art of disappointment.

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Funny roasts

There's more to a good roast than merely saying something unpleasant or horrible. The barbs you hurl can be funny. Below are some of the most comic roasts.

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The people who tolerate you daily are the real heroes.

I'd give you a nasty look, but you already have one.

You should really come with a warning label.

Someday, you'll go far. I hope you stay there.

I'm sorry; I didn't realize I had to dumb it down for you.

You're a grey sprinkle on a rainbow cupcake.

Do your parents even realize they're living proof that two wrongs don't make a right?

Please tell me you don't plan to home-school your kids.

You're like the end pieces of a loaf of bread. Everyone touches you, but nobody wants you.

If laughter is the best medicine, your face must be curing the world.

If your brain were dynamite, there wouldn't be enough to blow your hat off.

You're like a cloud. When you disappear, it's a beautiful day.

I'm sorry, was I supposed to be offended? The only thing that offends me is your face.

I've seen more interesting walls than you.

Sorry, I don't have time to listen to your delusions of adequacy.

It's impressive how you've made mediocrity your superpower.

I can't imagine what it's like to be you, and I hope I never find out.

I'm sorry for hurting your feelings; I thought you already knew you were stupid.

Stop acting like you know everything unless your name is Google!

I don't understand your specific kind of stupidity, but I admire your total commitment to it.

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Memorable savage roasts

Savage roasts are meant to leave a mark. Here are the best savage roasts that will make your remarks memorable.

I love the sound you make when you shut up.

Hey, I found your nose. It was in my business.

How long did it take you to come up with that one?

If you don't like my opinion of you—improve yourself!

Just because I'm smiling doesn't mean I don't want to hit you in the face.

I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem!

You consistently set low expectations and fail to achieve them.

Shock me; say something intelligent.

I would ask you how old you are, but you can't count that high.

Sorry for the mean, awful, accurate things I said.

I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.

Life is full of disappointments, and I just added you to the list.

You speak an infinite deal of nothing.

Normally, people live and learn. You, on the other hand, just live.

I see you've embraced your inner stupidity; it suits you.

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Savage roasts comebacks

Have you ever argued with someone, and they had you so worked up that you couldn't think of a good comeback until long after the fight? Next time you find yourself in such a situation, don't let them win. Here are some savage replies when someone roasts you.

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My life may be a joke, but it's not as funny as your face.

I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong.

2 words, 1 finger. Do the math!

Your face is just fine, but you'll have to put a bag over that personality.

Mind if I ask where the OFF button for your mouth is?

I don't know what your problem is, but I guess it's hard to pronounce.

If stupid could fly, you'd be a jet.

I'd insult you, but then I'd have to explain it afterwards, so never mind.

Stupidity is not a crime, so you're free to go.

The trash will get picked up early tomorrow. Be ready.

Feed your ego. I'm busy.

You couldn't handle me even if I came with instructions.

I don't know what makes you so stupid, but it really works.

You shouldn't act hard to get when you're already hard to like.

Are you giving me the silent treatment? Finally!

I told my therapist about you.

I'd love to kill you with kindness, but I only have this chainsaw.

I may not be perfect, but at least I'm not you

To insult me, I must first value your opinion. Nice try, though.

You're like a slinky; nobody knows what purpose you serve, but it's fun to watch you fall down the stairs.

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When you roast someone, they learn to be cautious about what they say to you in the future. Some people are irritating and cruel, and they always say things that hurt other people's feelings. These savage roasts should help you silence such individuals.

Yen.Com.Gh recently published an article on "You hurt me, but I still love you" quotes and messages. They are essential for you and the person you love to understand how to manage the relationship when things go wrong.

When someone you adore and respect inflicts pain on you, you are overcome by anger, resentment, and betrayal. Use these quotes to communicate and make amends with them.

Source: YEN.Com.Gh

Opinion: Artificial Intelligence Is Faster And Cheaper Than Human Labor. But It Lags In Creativity.

© Provided by San Diego Union Tribune Zoubin Ghahramani, vice president of research at Google, speaks at the Google AI@ event on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, in New York. Google has been cautious about who gets to play with its AI advancements despite growing pressure for the internet giant to compete more aggressively with rival Microsoft. ((John Minchillo / Associated Press))

Eger is professor emeritus at San Diego State University and a former adviser on telecommunications policy to President Gerald Ford and to Dean Burch when Burch was chair of the Federal Communications Commission. He lives in La Jolla.

If we fail to change or to adapt to the new artificial general intelligence, or AGI, economy and meet the challenges facing us, we will see more jobs lost, the new jobs out of our reach, and the slow but inevitable decline of the species.

As a whole new social, economic and political world order based on artificial intelligence emerges, the importance of reinventing business strategies, corporations, communities and importantly, our schools, is critical. Sadly, most people are not sure what AI is, let alone what an application such as ChatGPT means to our future.

For the last few years, some of society's chief concerns have been whether AI will replace humans with machines, how industry will likely use AI or what the cost will be, and whether regulation will dictate AI's future. It's all been a mystery to the general public. But not to those CEOs who attended the 2020 Davos World Economic Summit. They all agreed they would use AI if available, and some companies already are simply because the increase in productivity achieved by technology is too good to ignore. Think about it: Robots don't take vacations or coffee breaks, they never get sick or protest working conditions. Not yet, anyway.

Already, and partly as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, fields like telemedicine jumped ahead in a matter of weeks past where we thought we would be in 10 years. Robotics is also being deployed in ways like policing curfews, cleaning subways and delivering groceries. More industries are now adopting robots in factories and the service industry where jobs are easily automated.

In 2014, the Pew Research Center reported that half of the experts it canvassed envisioned a future in which "robots and digital agents" had displaced large numbers of workers, leading to "vast increases in income inequality, masses of people who are effectively unemployable and breakdowns in the social order."

More recently, new research and news reports have suggested AI can recognize and mimic human emotions and may surpass human intelligence. This, of course, raises the specter of human extinction.

Recently the founder and CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, and leaders of other AI labs signed an open letter begging for AI to be regulated and warning that AI was a "threat" because once we embrace AI, we will lose control as humans. As detailed in The New York Times report on the statement, they fear AI technology might one day pose an existential threat and should be considered a risk to humanity.

In a Time magazine piece, Satya Nadella, the head of Microsoft was more optimistic. He said last month that AI solutions will do our drudge work, "freeing us to do the creative tasks where humans excel."

Not surprising.

Being creative is very much at the forefront of school curriculum reform to ensure that people have the skills needed to work in the new AI/robotic economy. Being creative is not so easy. Even defining creativity is much debated.

Johns Hopkins University, a leader in the world of creativity, quotes one of its researchers, Charles Limb, who in 2012 was frustrated that his area of scientific research attracted little external funding. "With some exasperation, he describes being told recently by the National Institutes of Health — as they rejected a grant application without review — that 'creativity doesn't fit under the mission of NIH.'"

Limb's response? "I don't think human society can survive without creativity. Are you really sure it doesn't fit under your mission statement?"

Creating pathways to these new jobs will not be nearly enough. As early as 2008, the Conference Board, a New York-based think tank for major corporate interests, partnering with Americans for the Arts, surveyed 155 U.S. Business executives and 89 school superintendents and school leaders, and discovered that the No. 1 skill necessary for success in the workplace was "creativity." Yet there is a huge gap between understanding this truth and putting it into meaningful practice. Not nearly enough is being done.

The key may be staying well ahead of the progress of AI/robotics. That is what Johns Hopkins and others are saying. Unless we find a way to develop our right-brain skills to be more empathetic and intuitive, to see forests and trees and thus be more creative, we will not outpace the brain and bodies of AI with robotics that will eventually acquire those skills.

It is time to take action. Adopt some form of oversight and regulation, reform our schools to prepare for the AI revolution and nurture creativity. Failure to do so will be disastrous for our future.

This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.

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