Finding Awe and Truth in the Age of AI
Our sense of awe is reserved for the most impactful moments. When we realize we are small, yet entwined with something greater. When we feel a deep appreciation and respect that can’t be dampened. Lately I have been so in awe of the natural intelligence (dare I say Divine Intelligence?) around me. A spider stretching out his legs in protection of the rosebud he made his home. My mama hen knowing exactly what to do to care for her chicks. A summer thunderstorm. These moments stick with us and remind us of the vast goodness of life.
The examples of Divine Intelligence are even within us, in our heart that beats without fail, a gut hosting its own microbiome, our cells harboring a mitochondria that has DNA different from our own. And it all functions together without us giving it any thought. The intelligence deeply seated in all life is awesome. It brings you to your knees if you let it.
And yet, for all the hype and excitement around Artificial Intelligence, it has never brought me that sense of awe. No matter how many spreadsheets AI helps me build or problems it helps me solve, it has not once stirred that feeling in me. No matter how personable they train the model to be, something in me knows I am not engaging with another life form. I will admit it is a wonderful tool that I use for work frequently, speeding up intangible things I do in digital space to earn money. It helps me be more efficient at work in order to get back to my real life. Back to connecting with the countless lifeforms around me.
Alongside the rise of AI is this growing reality that so few things are true in our world today. We are so surrounded by lies and half truths in the digital space and beyond that some people refer to our time as the Post Truth Era. Lucky us! To state the obvious, we are bombarded with the lies of social media, politicians, advertising, societal norms and judgements. All these deceptions can even creep into our own behavior. Whether we know they are lies or not, we repeat things we've seen online, we share opinions based on limited information, and we exaggerate our experiences to manipulate a particular reaction. All that to say, I am learning to savor what is True. Seeing the same turkey vulture every afternoon as it rides the current of wind low above my garden. Realizing my dog can find me by scent no matter how far separated we are on the trail. Seeing my husband learn and use a new skill. Watching a tendril of a cucumber plant find the trellis and cling on. I know that life holds more intelligence and truth than any language learning model or AI system. My experiences with Divine Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence make this clear to me.
When I reflect on the things that bring me joy and awe, it is things that are true and tangible. For example, if I make something with clay, the medium responds to my touch, and that can’t be anything but a true reflection of my effort and skill and artistic essence. Similarly, a seed can’t tell a lie. It is either put in rich soil, given water and sun and conditions to thrive or not. It will express what is coded in its genetics when given the chance. You can’t plant a watermelon seed and get a peach tree. I find comfort in these truths, I am also in awe of them.
In the age of AI, I am seeking Truth and Awe. They are available to me in experiences in nature, moments of untainted creative expression, witnessing inspiring moral character, and beyond. I invite you to join me: notice what stirs that feeling in you, seek out things that make you feel small among the vastness of life, seek out experiences that connect you with others, yourself, and different life forms. I have found that the more time I spend in awe of divine intelligence, the more instances of awe I find. It becomes a positive feedback loop that enhances my one precious life. It feeds my creative soul, and builds kinship with everything around me. I hope you will find this to be true for you.
To Reflect:
What moments of awe have you experienced lately?
What creative output feels true to who you are?
What setting is the most awe-inspiring to you?
How often are you exposed to falsehoods in the media and beyond? How can you limit that?
