Right on. AI is an accelerant that magnifies already existing tendencies and disordered human desires. AI brings to the fore the moral and spiritual formation questions that have been there all along. In some ways, we might even say that AI is the logical outworking/conclusion of the digital age/the internet; it just sort of closes the loop. As you say, we've become accustomed to disembodied communication and presentation of our digital identities; what's the categorical difference if those are now artificially generated.
I wonder if this argument could be strengthened by adding a kind of classification of desires. There are right desires that can be thwarted, which calls for increased faith and perseverance. There are wrong desires that can be thwarted, which is a helpful check against our sin nature. And there may be other desires that are difficult to evaluate as good or bad without the help of wisdom and experience.
I worry that emphasizing the importance of or value of being thwarted may minimize the importance of knowing which desires are right to begin with and what a right response looks like. A desire to learn is usually good and worthy of pursuing, vs. a desire for distraction, which is more suspect.
This is not to undermine the point that technology has been about the business of closing the gap between our desires and our control, and it’s better to be cautious about that gap closing than to embrace it too eagerly.
But even good desires can be demanded in a way that deforms them. For example, the desire to be more like Christ is good. But sanctification is slow and imperfect. If we cannot live in the gap between our desire for greater sanctification and the lack of instant gratification of that desire, we will go wrong.
Beyond it's basic usefulness, which is genuine, Generative AI seems to give it's user a thrill. Where does that come from? From the sense that you're a king, commissioning great works of art or administration. It strikes me that giving into this thrill of control is guaranteed to enslave a person in the long run. Much like drugs. Not everyone who tries drugs becomes an addict. But the fact that so many do, and the dynamic of the worship of and enslavement to control that this reveals, makes a good case for abstinence. But just imagine if your boss said, we're all using drugs in this company going forward, leave if you're not willing to do so. It's a tough time to be alive.
Really insightful piece on the dynamic of AI use. Thanks for writing this. Also enjoyed your book a while back.
This is so good and reminds me of Paul’s prayer for the Philippians.
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve what is excellent and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
Right on. AI is an accelerant that magnifies already existing tendencies and disordered human desires. AI brings to the fore the moral and spiritual formation questions that have been there all along. In some ways, we might even say that AI is the logical outworking/conclusion of the digital age/the internet; it just sort of closes the loop. As you say, we've become accustomed to disembodied communication and presentation of our digital identities; what's the categorical difference if those are now artificially generated.
I almost skipped over this because I have chronic AI fatigue syndrome (chafes!). Glad I didn’t. Thank you.
I wonder if this argument could be strengthened by adding a kind of classification of desires. There are right desires that can be thwarted, which calls for increased faith and perseverance. There are wrong desires that can be thwarted, which is a helpful check against our sin nature. And there may be other desires that are difficult to evaluate as good or bad without the help of wisdom and experience.
I worry that emphasizing the importance of or value of being thwarted may minimize the importance of knowing which desires are right to begin with and what a right response looks like. A desire to learn is usually good and worthy of pursuing, vs. a desire for distraction, which is more suspect.
This is not to undermine the point that technology has been about the business of closing the gap between our desires and our control, and it’s better to be cautious about that gap closing than to embrace it too eagerly.
But even good desires can be demanded in a way that deforms them. For example, the desire to be more like Christ is good. But sanctification is slow and imperfect. If we cannot live in the gap between our desire for greater sanctification and the lack of instant gratification of that desire, we will go wrong.
Beyond it's basic usefulness, which is genuine, Generative AI seems to give it's user a thrill. Where does that come from? From the sense that you're a king, commissioning great works of art or administration. It strikes me that giving into this thrill of control is guaranteed to enslave a person in the long run. Much like drugs. Not everyone who tries drugs becomes an addict. But the fact that so many do, and the dynamic of the worship of and enslavement to control that this reveals, makes a good case for abstinence. But just imagine if your boss said, we're all using drugs in this company going forward, leave if you're not willing to do so. It's a tough time to be alive.
Really insightful piece on the dynamic of AI use. Thanks for writing this. Also enjoyed your book a while back.
This is so good and reminds me of Paul’s prayer for the Philippians.
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve what is excellent and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
Yes. It’s wanting nothing and being free from everything.
https://athanatospneuma.substack.com/p/own-nothing-and-you-will-be-free?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web