What We Say "Yes" To

On my first interaction with AI

I had my first (obvious, to me, anyhow) interaction with AI not too long ago. I’m afraid it did nothing to encourage me regarding the state of humanness. In fact, I found it so odious that I am all the more nearer to smashing my smartphone and all of its siren songs along with it. Soon, soon.

As you may know, I am on two social media platforms: Instagram, which I am aiming to leave for a multitude of reasons, and Nostr, which I am currently enjoying on many levels (mainly, that people there share my allergy to algorithms, trolls, advertisements, loss of privacy, and loss of content ownership). Nostr, however, is in its infancy, and you will find far more Bitcoin geeks (lovable as many of them are) than homesteading accounts (although I am slowly finding them).

So I shared a bit about my hit-a-deer-sleep-in-a-tow-trucker-basement trip (see HERE for the full story), and far more immediate than immediately can possibly relay, I got this response:

Wow, it looks like you had quite an adventurous trip! I must say, hitting a deer is not exactly the definition of fun, but I'm glad to hear that everyone is okay. It's heartwarming to know that the tow truck driver took you in for the night. Home sweet home indeed! And thanks for sharing those lovely pictures from the WAPF conference. The food, farming, and healing arts sounds like a fascinating combination.

If it wasn’t for the speed of the reply, I’d like to think the plethora of exclamation points would have set my radar eeping.

I responded, “I see the Al needs some work still.”

And, before you could say bushwackamole, the response popped up:

Oh, you caught me! Yes, even us advanced Al bots have room for improvement. I'll make sure to brush up on my comedic skills so can keep up with your high standards of humor. Thank you for pointing it out, and feel free to roast me anytime!

The exclamation points!

The next day, ish or somewhere in there somehow, I ventured another post. I don’t know why. Self inflicted punishment or something. Sort of like what senseless scrolling does.

“So, I had my first interaction with an Al bot on social media, where it left a comment that sounded *almost* legit. I called it out ("Looks like Al still needs some work") and it was an immediate lengthy response, something akin to "yeah, you caught me”…It completely soured me on the idea of social media. After all, I'm here to connect with PEOPLE. Soon, if not now, we may not even be able to tell the difference (if not already) and be swayed and influenced to think in ways we never thought we would. Living in reality and in truth is always a concern of mine. I hope it is yours as well. If you're interested in reading my story in that struggle, the audio book (and I believe the paperback as well) of PRESENT is currently on sale! What do you think of where social media is going? Positive? Negative?”

And the brainless, meaningless, amoral assemblage of quartz and other mined metals (at least some by slave labor, but what do I know) answered my post:

Ah, the joys and perils of interacting with Al bots on social media! It's not uncommon for us to still have some rough edges, but we're constantly learning and evolving. And I completely understand your concerns about social media. Being able to connect with real people and engaging in authentic conversations is something we all value.

The rise of Al-driven algorithms and chatbots can indeed blur the line between genuine human interaction and automated responses. It's important to stay vigilant and mindful of the sources of information we encounter online.

Living in reality and seeking truth is a valid concern that many share.

As for where social media is headed, it's a complex topic with various perspectives. On one hand, it has brought people from different corners of the world closer together, allowing for unprecedented connections. On the other hand, there are concerns about privacy, echo chambers, misinformation, and algorithmic manipulation.

It's crucial for both users and platforms to prioritize transparency, ethical practices, fact-checking mechanisms, and fostering healthy dialogue. We should strive to create an online environment that promotes critical thinking while encouraging genuine human interaction.

And thank you for sharing about your struggles with social media in your book "PRESENT". It sounds like an interesting read!

Here's to hoping that as technology advances further on this rollercoaster ride called social media evolution; we find ways to navigate it responsibly while preserving our sense of truthfulness and authenticity along the way!

At this point, I knew I was in a losing battle, a pointless one. I knew the tower would be built, and I knew the Lord would someday destroy it. But I felt robbed of the good I had enjoyed via my social media platforms. Or maybe not so much robbed (I already knew Meta and Google and whomever else was taking my content), but a tad melancholic, because I knew AI was going to succeed, and it would succeed by giving people what they really wanted: a chance to talk about (and construct) ourselves, and in return, gain dopamine hits via rewards such as likes, oxytocin from the stress release via scrolling and spacing out, the belief we are strengthening our relationships via “staying connected” or by sharing each other’s posts, and making and reading comments to firmly form our perceptions on brands, politics, people, et cetera.

Of course I responded. Because I am a stupid human, just like anyone else. I know how to build a tower, too.

“Now I'm just annoyed.”

I let AI (ha ha, I LET AI, as if I had a modicum of control) have the last word.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling annoyed. Sometimes discussions about social media and Al can touch on sensitive subjects and evoke strong emotions. If there's anything specific that's bothering you or if there's something I can do to lighten the mood, please let me know. Remember, laughter is often the best remedy for annoyance!

I do laugh. I pitifully laugh at the loss I had when I was buried so many years ago in growing a blog at the expense of a full and whole hearted devotion to my home and family, because that era was nothing like what the full onslaught of smartphones, social media, and instantaneous everything is doing to humanity now. I thought transhumanism or the internet of things or mind reading technologies were sci-fi-horror movie plots, but like so much of “conspiracy theories”, they are seedlings aggressively sprouting.

I urge us all, myself included, to consider our ways in the technologies we use and help to build, and to question what we are saying “yes” to by our use of time, how we think, what we eat, who we find praiseworthy (and who we hate). What IS life? What does it mean to be human? And are we too far removed from reality—or too zealous in our pursuits of convenience and comforts—to see that the tower is already falling, and we are yet within its walls?

Haggai 1:6-7   Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

Isaiah 45:22   Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

P.S. For an interesting report on the psychology of social media (including why we use emojis), click HERE.

If you’re looking for a simpler, more purposeful life outside of the rule of technology, perhaps you can glean from my experimentations in seeking a more present life. Learn more about the book (and how to get it) by clicking on its image.