‘We control matter because we control the mind. Reality is inside the skull.’
–George Orwell, Animal Farm
Like most people, l have a love/hate relationship with technology. l’ve always been curious, frustrated, and intrigued with this sometimes invisible presence which has such a powerful place in our lives. So much so that pre and during Covid, l began to speak and write about the future of life and work in depth, even beginning a book just before the Pandemic. Addressing the increasing Mental Health disorders that were/are arising from living in the Digital Matrix; stress, anxiety, dissatisfaction, distraction and stuck- ness people were/are experiencing from an unhealthy balance of Technology overload. My aim was to create a fresh awareness to upgrade our understanding of what makes us Human, why we might have more in common with technology than we realise and how not to lose ourselves in it!
In the following posts l will strive to illuminate and share some considerations in how we can re-cultivate an appreciation of being human and maintain our presence in the age of AI. And how by referring back to eastern philosophies and practices may help us reconnect to a spiritual and cellular remembrance that reflects the backbone of who we are and our own programming as a species. Aiding us to consciously co-exist with technology mindfully. (Other posts will follow as a continuance on this topic on the Neuroscience of the digital and technology impact on health and behaviours. Including the 4 D’s (Disruptions) to Inspiration Creativity Adaptability Motivation Performance Stress & Anxiety).
Life in general and outside stimulation can often batter our behaviours and senses. But did you ever the consider how Algorithms (decision making bits of code) might have the same effect? Algorithms are decision-making bits of code, and because we live in an environment that’s dominated by code they have become a really important presence and have a significant impact in and on our lives.
With technology already monitoring our everyday lives we should we be taking a greater interest in looking pass the novelty and convenience of the technology and what it means for us humans in the long term.
Evolving AI and the impact on Human behaviour and society has been an increasing hot topic for debate especially over the last few years. Introduced to this topic when l was studying Technology and Psychology at the University of Birkbeck in London. I attended a lecture given by Dr Robert Fisher’s on Robots, Cyborgs, AI and his concerns over the UK governance initiative. Enlightening and very scary! Dr Fisher sat on the House of Commons Committee for AI Ethics and Governance so he had a pretty good handle on the topic/s.
Just one example of why we should be concerned are the AI proposals from the big movie studios over the last two years on using AI to duplicate talent, provoking a lot of discussion and uproar around ethics? AI Ethics is not a new thing its been around for a quite a while, but us as humans have only woken up to the potential dangers in the last few years.
Algorithms have powerful implications for how we live. Always present and secretly observing and monitoring our every interaction. It seems now days we are always being monitored whether we’re plugged in to the matrix of the internet or out in the street. Remember the Will Smith Movie ‘Enemy Of The State?’.
Observing and registering from a virtual distance our interests and choices. They make decisions about us, and for us. With this being the case do we still feel we have freedom of choice and presence or are we becoming slaves to this Artificial Intelligence both personally and as a collective?
One of the most powerful algorithms l can think of is the page-rank algorithm on Google that decides the order of the results for a search term you might search for. Meaning the algorithm decides the things that you encounter; the things you’re exposed to and what you know of the world.
Evolving technology is an amazing tool and has become an important part of everyday life. I mean how would we have managed without it during the Pandemic?
This invisible presence permits and helps us to do things we never dreamed possible, making everything just a click away. Sometimes comforting and reassuring, sometimes making us lazy and too reliant on it’s presence. Is our connection to it taking us further away from the cellular remembrance of who we really are?
In this new dawn we find ourselves living in named by some as ‘The Fourth Industrial revolution.’ We find ourselves standing on the brink of a turning point in our Evolution as humans.
Humans are curious as a species, we ask questions, we want to create, express and prove the unimaginable. An intrinsic quality of our species. But with AI, are we playing at being God or will we let AI overtake us? Becoming the new master of creation? The evolvement of AI will only be successful if it is done with mindful governance and public debate.
So how can we (Humans) protect our presence in the age of AI? Well the answer lays in firstly understanding ourselves better, and our relationship with a higher controlling power.
A starting point to understand our behaviours with technology is to look at our curious fascination to build and/or create a connection with higher intelligence. We see this reflected through many scriptures and religions such as and not limited to Shintoism, Hinduism, and Kabbalah.
For this particular post l take the concept of an 'artificial intelligent human' known as the 'Golem' from the Jewish religion. The ‘Golem’ is a mythical being created to have human characteristics. In many of the old stories the 'Golems' sole purpose was/is to serve its creator. However, it also warns of the Golem becoming uncooperative, sometimes even turning against its creator. Is this something that we're prepared for with what we're creating with AI?
The interest we show now will influence and determine the outcome for humanity. The sci-fi movies we watched over 5 decades ago are not so laughable now because they are becoming our reality to some degree. An example of this was Matrix 4 going into production before the lockdown. Along with the remake in 2019 of Terminator, showing that the human fascination is still there.
One country that appears to have found a perfect balance between Spirituality and Technology is Japan. Cultivating a philosophy that everything is seen, reflected and connected in each other; person, nature, object and technology. Is this an approach that perhaps we should all follow for a harmonious future?
The decisions we make from now on in will shape our path forward. Humans still need to explore the unknown and remain curious but at the same time we need to make sure that we not putting ourselves out to pasture and ultimately in danger as a species where our presence is threatened.
The reality is that AI is taking over a lot of what humans used to do and is set to do even more unimaginable things moving forward. With Human Greater Intelligence said to be coming within 5 years, the balance of Human and machine interaction will change. Inevitably leading to when these machines will not longer require humans. Is that a world you want to see?
If not then we need to find a way to come together to harness this new technology on our own terms. Reflecting the importance of awareness, learning and education to rekindle that same spirit of pragmatic optimism which saw technology not as a threat, but as a force for good and human progress.
Dear Human, How will you stay present and connected to yourself in this evolving landscape?
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