Would you enjoy circus acts performed by robots?

We went to the circus this weekend. The last time we went to one was four years ago, so I was really excited about taking the kids now that they're a little older.

It was just like I remembered: acrobats flying through the air in gravity-defying feats, jugglers making impossible throws look effortless, and the one person that stood out the most (for me) was a performer (I don't even know what she'd be called!) who was so agile that her body seemed to be made of rubber. She squeezed her whole body backwards through a tiny hoop while I winced .... it shouldn't have been humanly possible; it looked painful!

It wasn't until well after the show when I was reflecting on my day that I thought about AI and robots.

In recent years, we've seen artificial intelligence improve really quickly. It can create images, write, compose music in a matter of seconds. And it's not just the arts. AI is also remarkably good at reports, emails, summaries, code, professional presentations. You name it, it can do it.

But as I thought about the acrobats flying through the air, I wondered if I would pay for a ticket if the performers were substituted with robots.

The instant answer that came to mind: I don't think I would.

In my opinion, the feat isn't valuable only because of the outcome. It's valuable because of the person who became capable of producing it.

I don't watch the trapeze artist simply to see the person reach the other side. I watch it because I understand the cost it takes them to get there. I know that the seemingly simple-looking feat took years of practice, discipline, and persistence.

I watch because I know that there’s a chance that they might fail …. which makes the moment they succeed all the more impressive.

There's something beautiful about watching someone - a person - who has taken years to truly master their craft. Particularly if their mastery defies the normal limits of what is and isn't humanly possible.

It's just not the same if a robot or machine does it. It might execute every trick perfectly. It might never miss a catch or lose its balance.

But I didn't pay for a circus ticket expecting a perfect show. I paid to witness courage. To see the result of years of devotion condensed into a few breathtaking moments.

To watch another human being do something that once seemed impossible because it gives me hope that the impossible is in fact, possible.

Perhaps that's one of the unexpected gifts AI has given us. Not because it can replace us, but because it can help us see more clearly what makes humanity unique in the first place.

When a computer can produce a painting in seconds, we begin to appreciate the artist who spent decades learning to see. When an article can be written in the blink of an eye, we admire the writer who has spent years learning to formulate and articulate his/her thoughts. When software can compose a melody, we value the musician whose life experiences are woven into every note and word.

The output matters, but the person behind it matters even more.

And that's why I'll continue to pay to watch athletes, musicians, dancers, actors, and circus performers perform their craft. Not because they can do something a machine can't imitate, but because we know what it cost them to become the kind of person who can do it.

After all, mastery isn't just about producing exceptional work.

It's about becoming an exceptional craftsperson.