Wow, Kert! What a provocative piece. Social media did not make us more social. Instead it contributed to a deep and nearly indescribable loneliness. Artificial intelligence will not make us more intelligent. Intelligence is not just retained information; it's insight, nuance, and revelation. Artificial intelligence can only mimic knowledge and it cannot replicate self-knowledge.
What is going down the drain here is our collective memory, our collective moral and civil code of what it means to be human. And meaning is what gives life purpose, which is why I think it feels so good to digitally unplug, at least from time to time -- so that we don't forget how to find meaning and thus purpose. That is an action of the heart and AI cannot replicate that.
Good writing, Kert. I'll be chewing on this for some time, I'm sure. And for now, I'm going to disconnect and go sit on the back porch with my dog. Big hugs, ~stephanie
You have the seeds of your own moral and philosophical reflection on this, Stephanie, thank you. I cannot agree with you more! One of the things that makes me the most sad about it all, is the general malaise and apathy we humans now have as a seemingly bedrock characteristic. We āsuccumbā to the inevitable because thatās what weāre being sold. I fear for the generations behind meāas a principal, I saw the devastating effects that social media brought into the lives of way too many familiesāand both our girls and boys. All that being the case though, it does come down to agency and responsibility. It now takes incredible courage, fortitude, and perseverance to say NO to it allāto put drastic guardrails on our own personal use of these tools, even as we have let go our power to control or even influence those who are creating it all. Who knew just a few short years ago the truly revolutionary act going out to the back porch to sit with your dog, sip some tea, and listen to the sounds of birdsongs would be? And yet it is just that, revolutionary.
I have long been professing this treatise. It is SO completely FRIGHTENING that the average person has absolutely NO control over his own destiny any more. Watch I ROBOT with Will Smith and you will be able to visualize what your future will look like.
You are SPOT ON my friend! I, Robot is excellentābased on the stories by Isaac Asimov! Heās the one who first articulated the Three Laws of Robotics:
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
One wonders if the laws havenāt already been broken.
I. wonder if they are in place or not.But unintended consequences are part of every decision. Lawyers depend on them. Just like with the internet - what freedoms are we giving away in the name of comfort and ease.
Just keeping that question in mind, helps. āWhat freedom am I giving away right now, and at what cost?ā It should matter even if the only answer is āmy peace of mind.ā I give up my peace of mind way too oftenāand thatās on me.
Thank you, Kert. I hear you and love your demonstration. The thing is, human beings by nature are designed to create, play and experiment. I agree that they should use their awareness while doing those activities, yet they donāt. I have 2 questions for you: are we creating AI in our image? If so, who will decimate the human race first? I wouldnāt bet on AI... I donāt know how to deviate the AI evolution toward the right/wise direction no more than with humanity in its whole but stopping technological advances donāt seem realistic for the reason stated above.
I agree with you on the importance of being cautious and conscious about how we use technology at large, but we only have the power to do it individually as you do when denouncing the dangers. As luddites, you wonāt be able to stop the development of new technologies but you can be a role model of how to use it in a positive way. Lots of love.
I agree completely with you here. It IS the job of science to advance human knowledgeāand in that advancement, costs and dangers will always surface. And because science is strictly a human endeavor, it, like we humans, will always be imperfect. Part of that imperfection is our own unique ability to destroy ourselvesāno other species does what we do by way of degrading our environment, despoiling where we live, and in fact, destroying not only others through killing, war, hatred, etc., but in so doing, also destroy ourselves. We create incredible beauty and life-changing tools; we also create monsters. And I resonate strongly with your last two sentencesāāwe only have the power to [shut down technology] individually;ā and some do so while watching others get mindlessly sucked in to its intended and unintended consequences. As for role models, I have them myselfāthey are embodied of a way of life that is of the highest qualityānot a single role model of mine includes spending their hours mindlessly locked into their screens. They engage, connect, create, and mostly seek solitude and silence from all the noise.
I appreciate you for the depth of your engagement here, Geraldine. I love it when kindred spirits push my thinking to new depths (and heights!). You have done that today. šš¼
I think we are all role models for others, lighting the path for those who wants to follow. I strive to be a role model of what I want to see more in the world: love, compassion, solidarity, hope, joy... I cannot decide for others whatās appropriate for them for Iām not in their shoes and we are all on different paths and at different intersection points but I can be the best version of myself in every situation. If we all do that, there wonāt be anything to fear anymore.
I appreciate you as well, my friend, for giving me food for thoughts and enriching my perspectives upon life. Lots of love.
This is a comment I made on another site about how seniors view technology:
"As a 75 yr old Gray Mare, ex-teacher, life-long learner I, too, have embraced technology as a tool. For my 'job' as Volunteer Coordinator for many horse shows the Signup app itself has made it all worth it. Your statement about the next generation not wanting to trust hit home. My job of 33 yrs was to help secondary kids navigate the teenage years into adulthood. I used science to teach them to QUESTION logically. I would hope that this lack of trust would bring them into a curious, questioning attitude about what they are hearing. Unfortunately AI is taking away "reality" as we know it and truth will be very hard to come by. I fear that this will spawn a generation of timidity and anxiety. We will lose our innate ability to "Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before" attitude. We will 'pull in our horns', become nationalists and lose our ability to work together as a human race. The ability to know anything at the press of a button also means that the "everything" we know can be corrupted. So I go to the barn/pasture and talk to the only soul that gives me the TRUTH, my horse."
No wonder we resonate: Me, a 33 year retired teacher/principal; taught jr high students (loved them!) science and math (loved them too!). I am worried about our future generations of childrenāmany who, now, no longer get their hands dirty in a garden; donāt go out to dance in rain puddles; are no longer holding books in their hands to be mesmerized by far off worlds of great literature; and can no longer sit still, without a screen in their hands, for even five minutes before going stir crazy. The last years of my career, as an elementary principal, I began to see this in the young parents of my students. Humans are losing the capacity to have rational, calm, and meaningful face-to-face conversation.
āIs it real?ā Missing
moral compass power āonā?
We are the guardrails.
Wishing that were true,
We donāt know how to stop this.
Nor do we want to.
~~~~~~
Our human nature
Is to want abundance now.
And donāt ask questions.
~~~~~~
But questions save us.
Though only the correct ones.
āWhy?ā Is all I ask.
Yes to that, and that.
To be guardrails, reminder.
What if...? We can ask.
Wow, Kert! What a provocative piece. Social media did not make us more social. Instead it contributed to a deep and nearly indescribable loneliness. Artificial intelligence will not make us more intelligent. Intelligence is not just retained information; it's insight, nuance, and revelation. Artificial intelligence can only mimic knowledge and it cannot replicate self-knowledge.
What is going down the drain here is our collective memory, our collective moral and civil code of what it means to be human. And meaning is what gives life purpose, which is why I think it feels so good to digitally unplug, at least from time to time -- so that we don't forget how to find meaning and thus purpose. That is an action of the heart and AI cannot replicate that.
Good writing, Kert. I'll be chewing on this for some time, I'm sure. And for now, I'm going to disconnect and go sit on the back porch with my dog. Big hugs, ~stephanie
You have the seeds of your own moral and philosophical reflection on this, Stephanie, thank you. I cannot agree with you more! One of the things that makes me the most sad about it all, is the general malaise and apathy we humans now have as a seemingly bedrock characteristic. We āsuccumbā to the inevitable because thatās what weāre being sold. I fear for the generations behind meāas a principal, I saw the devastating effects that social media brought into the lives of way too many familiesāand both our girls and boys. All that being the case though, it does come down to agency and responsibility. It now takes incredible courage, fortitude, and perseverance to say NO to it allāto put drastic guardrails on our own personal use of these tools, even as we have let go our power to control or even influence those who are creating it all. Who knew just a few short years ago the truly revolutionary act going out to the back porch to sit with your dog, sip some tea, and listen to the sounds of birdsongs would be? And yet it is just that, revolutionary.
Here's to revolutionary acts, my friend!
I have long been professing this treatise. It is SO completely FRIGHTENING that the average person has absolutely NO control over his own destiny any more. Watch I ROBOT with Will Smith and you will be able to visualize what your future will look like.
You are SPOT ON my friend! I, Robot is excellentābased on the stories by Isaac Asimov! Heās the one who first articulated the Three Laws of Robotics:
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
One wonders if the laws havenāt already been broken.
I. wonder if they are in place or not.But unintended consequences are part of every decision. Lawyers depend on them. Just like with the internet - what freedoms are we giving away in the name of comfort and ease.
Just keeping that question in mind, helps. āWhat freedom am I giving away right now, and at what cost?ā It should matter even if the only answer is āmy peace of mind.ā I give up my peace of mind way too oftenāand thatās on me.
Love the engagement, Barbara, thank you.
Thank you, Kert. I hear you and love your demonstration. The thing is, human beings by nature are designed to create, play and experiment. I agree that they should use their awareness while doing those activities, yet they donāt. I have 2 questions for you: are we creating AI in our image? If so, who will decimate the human race first? I wouldnāt bet on AI... I donāt know how to deviate the AI evolution toward the right/wise direction no more than with humanity in its whole but stopping technological advances donāt seem realistic for the reason stated above.
I agree with you on the importance of being cautious and conscious about how we use technology at large, but we only have the power to do it individually as you do when denouncing the dangers. As luddites, you wonāt be able to stop the development of new technologies but you can be a role model of how to use it in a positive way. Lots of love.
I agree completely with you here. It IS the job of science to advance human knowledgeāand in that advancement, costs and dangers will always surface. And because science is strictly a human endeavor, it, like we humans, will always be imperfect. Part of that imperfection is our own unique ability to destroy ourselvesāno other species does what we do by way of degrading our environment, despoiling where we live, and in fact, destroying not only others through killing, war, hatred, etc., but in so doing, also destroy ourselves. We create incredible beauty and life-changing tools; we also create monsters. And I resonate strongly with your last two sentencesāāwe only have the power to [shut down technology] individually;ā and some do so while watching others get mindlessly sucked in to its intended and unintended consequences. As for role models, I have them myselfāthey are embodied of a way of life that is of the highest qualityānot a single role model of mine includes spending their hours mindlessly locked into their screens. They engage, connect, create, and mostly seek solitude and silence from all the noise.
I appreciate you for the depth of your engagement here, Geraldine. I love it when kindred spirits push my thinking to new depths (and heights!). You have done that today. šš¼
I think we are all role models for others, lighting the path for those who wants to follow. I strive to be a role model of what I want to see more in the world: love, compassion, solidarity, hope, joy... I cannot decide for others whatās appropriate for them for Iām not in their shoes and we are all on different paths and at different intersection points but I can be the best version of myself in every situation. If we all do that, there wonāt be anything to fear anymore.
I appreciate you as well, my friend, for giving me food for thoughts and enriching my perspectives upon life. Lots of love.
So well said!!!
This is a comment I made on another site about how seniors view technology:
"As a 75 yr old Gray Mare, ex-teacher, life-long learner I, too, have embraced technology as a tool. For my 'job' as Volunteer Coordinator for many horse shows the Signup app itself has made it all worth it. Your statement about the next generation not wanting to trust hit home. My job of 33 yrs was to help secondary kids navigate the teenage years into adulthood. I used science to teach them to QUESTION logically. I would hope that this lack of trust would bring them into a curious, questioning attitude about what they are hearing. Unfortunately AI is taking away "reality" as we know it and truth will be very hard to come by. I fear that this will spawn a generation of timidity and anxiety. We will lose our innate ability to "Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before" attitude. We will 'pull in our horns', become nationalists and lose our ability to work together as a human race. The ability to know anything at the press of a button also means that the "everything" we know can be corrupted. So I go to the barn/pasture and talk to the only soul that gives me the TRUTH, my horse."
No wonder we resonate: Me, a 33 year retired teacher/principal; taught jr high students (loved them!) science and math (loved them too!). I am worried about our future generations of childrenāmany who, now, no longer get their hands dirty in a garden; donāt go out to dance in rain puddles; are no longer holding books in their hands to be mesmerized by far off worlds of great literature; and can no longer sit still, without a screen in their hands, for even five minutes before going stir crazy. The last years of my career, as an elementary principal, I began to see this in the young parents of my students. Humans are losing the capacity to have rational, calm, and meaningful face-to-face conversation.