Years ago I read of the distinction between intellect and intelligence. Intellect only asks "how". Intelligence asks "why". This distinction is akin to Iain MacGhilrist's description of the differing functions of the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The Large Language Model concatenations labelled AI is not and cannot be intelligent. It is a massive amplification and acceleration of our left brain, of our intellect. My prayer is that its sudden, even violent insertion into our lives will highlight what is uniquely ours to do: to love, pray, care and be present, in a way an AI agent or robot can never be, and have humans embrace our unique capabilities and use them to constrain this technology and the massive forces that are insinuating it into world without caution.
I feel so strongly that crafting sermons and pastoral reflections is the stuff of poetry and soul, not AI. To surrender that work to the great electronic collective while canibalizing the unpaid work of other poets and theologians feels like both the creator of the work and the recipient of the work are being shortchanged.
Thanks again Cameron, for bringing us into this important conversation...or at least reflection. I am grateful to have many areas of my life where AI is, and is not, welcome. In the tasks you raised...yes, work and personal 'projects', yes searching for patterns that I could, and do, miss, yes for learning stuff I'm curious about. And hard no with all forms of art, writing, poetry, music (playing it that is), singing, and all of my cherished relationships including praying and communing with the more-than-humans...all that is sacred to me.
Thank you for helping and guiding us to think about this topic. I agree that AI can be a great tool in science and research. But, I don’t think it can replace relationship, at least I don’t want it to in my life. And our children, they need relationships. As a public school teacher, I saw miracles happen in and through the relationships in the classroom. There’s nothing like the relationships in a community to help us see the perspectives of others, learn that we are not always right, negotiate. And there’s nothing like a human smile and a human hug. ❤️ Blessings on you today, Cameron!
Cameron: This article has given me food for thought. I have always been feeling as though tech would take over my life, but what would I do without Zoom for my Sunday service and weekly Bible Study and Writing from the Insight Out, etc.? Hmmmm. I am thinking again.
Years back I ran across a sentiment that has stayed with me ever since: just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. The gist of your article.
What do we—will we—hold scared? Apart from market place, from efficient , from bigger-better-faster? Search the sacred—that is a fundament for our shared humanity.
Tristan Harris, Center for Humane Technology has given several interviews about AI well worth your time— he is masterful, easy to understand, passionate, an ethicist, brilliant, and his insights and knowledge are critically important.
The first link is long; the second is a condensed more humorous conversation with Jon Stewart. Watch both and share widely!
I would never want to have AI at the dining table interrupting family conversation (I don’t want phones there either!)
I would never want AI to become the replacement for one-to-one relationships between real human beings.
I would never want AI to become the comforter of small children, or a babysitter, or a playmate, or a teacher in the classroom of young children at all, and older ones for most of the time.
We must continue to use our own intellect, imagination, creativity, practical skills, and physical activities alongside AI or we will become deskilled, unimaginative, uncreative, dependent and unfit. It will then reduce our human-ness.
I would never want AI to take the place of any human relationship, although I recognise that it can be useful to help shape those relationships, if we engage with it in that way, for advice and asking deeper questions.
Years ago I read of the distinction between intellect and intelligence. Intellect only asks "how". Intelligence asks "why". This distinction is akin to Iain MacGhilrist's description of the differing functions of the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The Large Language Model concatenations labelled AI is not and cannot be intelligent. It is a massive amplification and acceleration of our left brain, of our intellect. My prayer is that its sudden, even violent insertion into our lives will highlight what is uniquely ours to do: to love, pray, care and be present, in a way an AI agent or robot can never be, and have humans embrace our unique capabilities and use them to constrain this technology and the massive forces that are insinuating it into world without caution.
I feel so strongly that crafting sermons and pastoral reflections is the stuff of poetry and soul, not AI. To surrender that work to the great electronic collective while canibalizing the unpaid work of other poets and theologians feels like both the creator of the work and the recipient of the work are being shortchanged.
Thanks again Cameron, for bringing us into this important conversation...or at least reflection. I am grateful to have many areas of my life where AI is, and is not, welcome. In the tasks you raised...yes, work and personal 'projects', yes searching for patterns that I could, and do, miss, yes for learning stuff I'm curious about. And hard no with all forms of art, writing, poetry, music (playing it that is), singing, and all of my cherished relationships including praying and communing with the more-than-humans...all that is sacred to me.
Thank you for helping and guiding us to think about this topic. I agree that AI can be a great tool in science and research. But, I don’t think it can replace relationship, at least I don’t want it to in my life. And our children, they need relationships. As a public school teacher, I saw miracles happen in and through the relationships in the classroom. There’s nothing like the relationships in a community to help us see the perspectives of others, learn that we are not always right, negotiate. And there’s nothing like a human smile and a human hug. ❤️ Blessings on you today, Cameron!
Cameron: This article has given me food for thought. I have always been feeling as though tech would take over my life, but what would I do without Zoom for my Sunday service and weekly Bible Study and Writing from the Insight Out, etc.? Hmmmm. I am thinking again.
👍
Missed your presence today
Heartfelt discussion 💕
Years back I ran across a sentiment that has stayed with me ever since: just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. The gist of your article.
Yes! These boundaries are essential to living fully with technology!
What do we—will we—hold scared? Apart from market place, from efficient , from bigger-better-faster? Search the sacred—that is a fundament for our shared humanity.
https://davidofallon.substack.com/p/seeking-the-sacred?
Tristan Harris, Center for Humane Technology has given several interviews about AI well worth your time— he is masterful, easy to understand, passionate, an ethicist, brilliant, and his insights and knowledge are critically important.
The first link is long; the second is a condensed more humorous conversation with Jon Stewart. Watch both and share widely!
https://share.google/bnb8x1i37Qq2BFlx1
With Jon Stewart https://share.google/TDSno5ri7ru6SvVJC
Thank you for this important reflection...may it focus us. Contemplative silence and then AI.
My early morning walk with my dog. Just the two of us, and nature, and God.
This is such an important topic- and I urge you to read this paper that describes the current architecture of AI that leaves out the meaning-making necessary to turn information into change. It’s a challenging read, but worth it! https://substack.com/@lumenrecursum/note/p-208135487?r=63r2yx&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
I would never want to have AI at the dining table interrupting family conversation (I don’t want phones there either!)
I would never want AI to become the replacement for one-to-one relationships between real human beings.
I would never want AI to become the comforter of small children, or a babysitter, or a playmate, or a teacher in the classroom of young children at all, and older ones for most of the time.
We must continue to use our own intellect, imagination, creativity, practical skills, and physical activities alongside AI or we will become deskilled, unimaginative, uncreative, dependent and unfit. It will then reduce our human-ness.
I would never want AI to take the place of any human relationship, although I recognise that it can be useful to help shape those relationships, if we engage with it in that way, for advice and asking deeper questions.