
Need for the AI age: more polymaths
Over the centuries, polymaths — or people knowledgeable in many disciplines — have brought forth a wide range of inventions and discoveries. Now polymaths may be setting the course of artificial intelligence going forward, and AI may even set the stage for a burst of polymath activity.
The ultimate polymath in history was Leonardo da Vinci, who was a revered artist, along with engineer, designer, and scientist. Ben Franklin, with his range of knowledge from political science to publishing to ocean currents, is another shining example. Then there’s Nikola Tesla with his range of pursuits in energy and communication. If da Vinci, Franklin, and Tesla were around today, it’s certain they would be dabbling in AI big time — for scientific and engineering pursuits, as well as to create new forms of art.
AI would be their tool for expanding their understanding of the worlds they sought to explore and improve.
“Polymaths are uniquely suited to stand at the intersections of knowledge, where invention often takes root,” said Frank Diana, futurist with TCS, in a recent post. “Their intellectual agility allows them to frame problems differently, ask unorthodox questions, and envision solutions that redefine entire domains.”
It seems logical that hyper-specialization is the only way to proceed with AI and other technologies, the domain of data scientists, prompt engineers, data engineers, and so on. But successful and ethical AI also demands input and accountability from people from outside technology, including creative people, entrepreneurs, scientists, financial people, legal experts, and ethicists just to name a few.
We may see more polymaths emerge as “knowledge was once the province of the privileged few, AI democratizes access to information and expertise,” John Nosta, founder of NostaLab, an innovation think tank, said in a recent article in Psychology Today. “Advanced language models and intelligent tutoring systems now offer personalized guidance across a vast array of subjects, from quantum physics to classical music composition. This accessibility empowers individuals to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries, fostering a new generation of polymaths.”
Polymaths emerge with each phase of progress, and now, we’re at another turning point. “Polymaths have long played a critical role on the invention side of the invention-innovation distinction. Invention involves creating something entirely new – ideas, devices, or processes that previously did not exist,” Diana said. “This pursuit demands an ability to traverse multiple domains, connecting seemingly unrelated concepts and pushing beyond conventional boundaries. These qualities lie at the very heart of the polymath.”
The world ahead demands a new versatility, and thus, the broad range of skills and interests a polymath can bring. This versatility will not only come from inspired individuals, but entire companies as well, Vinnie Mirchandani wrote in The New Polymath: Profiles in Compound-Technology Innovations back in 2010. He suggested at that time that professions such as information technology are expanding beyond the bounds of building and managing technology. He saw IT as laying at the very core of many of the important changes now reshaping business and society. “A wide range of analytical tools and technologies is available to enterprises today. Particularly encouraging is the progress around unstructured analytics, predictive analytics, and data visualization.”
AI is sparking “a new renaissance, empowering individuals to excel across multiple fields as modern-day polymaths,” Nosta said. Large language models “break down knowledge silos, enabling exploration of diverse subjects from art to quantum physics. AI-driven platforms personalize learning, nurturing interdisciplinary thinking for 21st-century innovation.”
Innovation that pushes advancements in health, aviation, construction, entertainment, and all other areas of life depend on polymaths who can see across domains. Such as AI chips that enable the blind to see, 3D printing of housing, or apps that track health metrics.
At the same time, it’s still an open question as to whether AI will “serve as a force for human well-being, or push us toward unintended outcomes,” said Diana. “The answer depends on how we align AI’s transformative power with the values that have defined polymathy: curiosity, ethical responsibility, and a commitment to advancing humanity.”
AI has the potential to “radically shift the dynamics of invention,” Diana pointed out. “With the ability to integrate vast amounts of data across diverse fields, AI may not only replicate human polymathic thinking but also exceed it, opening new frontiers in medicine, energy, climate solutions, and beyond.”