The Human Spirit and Artificial Intelligence
Newsletter
TLDR: AI programs like ChatGPT are similar to Google Maps for driving directions. They can be a very useful tool but also potentially very dangerous. The more powerful the tool the more responsibility that comes with it.
Oh and also I have a new Podcast Episode out now! 👇🏼
In this episode, I am joined by two amazing and inspiring guests, Jesse Hutch and Donny Mac.
In season two of the podcast we dive into the theme of guidance. We examine the various forms it has taken in our lives, often appearing in unexpected ways.
Donny shares his story of feeling urged by God to reconnect with someone he knew would not follow through with catching up. Despite his hesitancy, Donny listened to this calling and ended up making a significant positive impact on her life. He also shares his belief that following guidance to lovingly act on behalf of others is key to determining if a prompting is truly from God.
Jesse also shares his experiences with guidance and how his faith has helped him make important decisions in his life, particularly when it comes to relationships and forgiveness. He shares a powerful story about reconnecting with his father after 24 years of no communication, and how his faith led him to forgive and build a relationship with him.
Throughout this episode, we discuss the importance of listening to divine guidance and being open to helping others, even if it may not be expected or easy. So join us as we share inspiring stories and insights on the power of guidance in our lives.
Human Made Versus AI Generated
I wrote an entire newsletter with the help of a new artificially intelligent program called ChatGPT. It worked. And it worked pretty well.
I sat there staring at the screen and asking myself if this was a road I wanted to go down.
How much do I want to utilize artificial intelligence in my creative process? Where do I draw the line?
If you aren’t yet aware of what ChatGPT is and what people are saying about it you can watch a video summary by Clicking Here.
The artificial intelligence did a great job with what I asked it to do. The more specific I got and the more details I gave it, the better the response was.
I used my computer’s voice to text feature to transcribe my ramblings about what I wanted to talk about. I then copied that text into ChatGPT and asked it to clean it up for clarity and increased engagement. It did a fantastic job. So much so, that I wrote an additional section explaining the truth about the newsletter and how it was created with the help of AI.
However, It felt like cheating to present something as my own when it wasn’t entirely. After I was all done, I sat there staring at the newsletter and it just felt off. So I explored myself and what I was feeling at a deeper level.
The process of writing and rewriting is therapeutic. It is like cleaning your own room. It allows the mind to settle into your own ideas and find the right place for them. By using a machine to do this, I lost this beneficial side effect.
I’m not against AI or ChatGPT. It’s a new tool and there are great use cases for it. I’m just exploring it for myself and looking to define the boundaries and tradeoffs that come with implementing this latest technological advancement.
I remember when I first started using Google Maps on my iPhone to get directions. It was great and felt like magic. No more having to remember turns or street names. No more fumbling with maps or asking for directions at the local gas station. Over time I became more and more accustomed to using my smartphone for navigation and looking up any information I needed in the moment.
This was helpful as it let me focus on other things and enjoy driving and talking with those in the car. I see AI as something similar to Google Maps. It can be a very useful tool for offloading some the the brain power required for a task. However, there is a tradeoff.
I’m sure most of you who have used the Google Maps application have at one time or another, experienced bad directions or been told to turn onto a road that wasn’t even there. While most of us wouldn’t blindly obey the turn by turn directions from a smartphone, some people did. I remember hearing stories of car accidents where the driver crashed the car because the voice on the phone told them to turn when it wasn’t safe to do so.
I believe this will also be the case with AI. We will have people who follow the suggestions from this latest technological advancement over their own better judgement and this will be very dangerous.
Does this mean we should ban it? Resist it completely?
No, I don’t think so. However, we need to create proper regulations as the genie is out of the bottle now.
Will AI take away some jobs? Yes, I believe it will.
Will there be a renewed appreciation for face to face contact and creativity in business? Absolutely.
There are people who can taste the faintest of flavours in a glass of wine. They become hyper sensitive to the subtle differences that most people would overlook. This applies to all categories of human activity. Those who spend the most time in an area, develop a higher resolution for defining the details and differences of what they are focusing on.
This enhanced awareness is already developing for people when they witness AI content. There are very subtle differences when interacting with AI content. The more you play around with this technology the more you can sense the computer mimicking human behaviour or styles.
The interesting thing I have found is that it becomes extremely hard to tell if you’re dealing with an AI when the output in very low resolution output like a social media post or a text message.
Here is a website where you can practice for yourself to see if you can guess whether or not you’re talking to a AI or a human. Try it yourself!
As AI aims to cut costs and automate much of our lives, I believe we will shift into a more human centred value model. Those who are able to see, hear and feel another person’s needs will thrive in this coming world. We will gain new appreciation for the challenges of human relationships and creative struggles.
I believe we will collectively begin to demand more from our intuition and our ability to sense the heart and soul of another.
Others will explore the darkest depths of isolation and dependancy. As these technologies become more and more powerful, the products and services produced by them will be substantially cheaper than the human made or designed ones. This will create a similar dynamic to highly processed food and organic locally sourced options.
The effects will be felt in the long run.
Spiritual Growth Versus Mental Fantasy
The interactions we have with one another both positive and negative generate a unique and sacred opportunity for spiritual growth. This is what I feel will be sacrificed in exchange for enhanced pleasure and convenience.
This presents our collective consciousness an opportunity to choose what it means to be human. Relationships can be augmented into AI chat bots that tell us everything we want to hear.
Time to Choose
I feel you will need to make up your own mind where you draw the line. The reason I’m writing this newsletter is to offer this question. There will be tradeoffs with every path you take.
I see tremendous value in having this conversation as it will reveal the many hidden benefits that come from doing things ourselves. In my own life, I anticipate ChatGPT and other AI applications fitting into a similar category as a dishwasher or smartphone navigation app.
The most helpful use cases I have found for myself are organizing my thoughts about a particular subject or creating a starting point for my creative ideas. Similar to how when you open a word processor application there are templates for common documents.
Whether you decide to use it or not, I believe it's important to know how it works and what it can do so you can prepare yourself for the world that is emerging and how best to navigate it.
As Prince says in the clip above,
“Don’t be fooled by the internet. It’s cool to get on the computer but don’t let the computer get on you. It’s cool to use the computer, don’t let the computer use you. You all saw The Matrix. There is a war going on. The battlefield is in the mind and the prize is the soul. So just be careful.”
Road Trip 🇨🇦 🚐 🇺🇸
Now that the Department of Homeland Security has lifted their vaccine requirement for entry I am now able to make my North America podcast tour a reality. I am very excited to be in the beginning stages of planning this epic adventure.
Time Has Come Network
Substack is a fantastic platform and I will continue to share my podcast here along with my newsletter. Last September I launched timehascome.com for all of you to enjoy yourself and share more of my content all in one place. If you haven’t already joined the network you can do so today and get your first month free!
My next book of poetry is almost done and I’m excited to share the finished product with you all very soon!
Continued blessings my friends,
Graham
The irony of this post! I just spent time learning about AI and ChatGPT. As a teacher I worry this will have a negative impact on the creativity of students. The potential to decrease communication abilities and opportunities is a true threat to our society. Like you I love technology and the benefits it allows, but there is something important about putting pencil to paper or to turn the pages in a book.
Great newsletter Graham! Lots to ponder but one thing for sure human interaction with one another is vital! Internet and other tools can be very helpful if used and explored in the right way. That is an individual choice of course! Thank you!