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What Do We Value in the Age of AI

I'm on a quest of self-discovery. And the older I get, the more I value vulnerability in myself and others. Exposing a more honest picture of myself, flaws and all, was something I'd be horrified by in my early years. I wanted people to think I was smart, talented, and attractive.


It's not that I still don't long for fame and fortune. I definitely want people to appreciate my "brilliance." I'm a deeply flawed human being, just like all of us. Yet I know my ego sometimes gets in the way of being the compassionate person I want to be.


I have a lazy eye, my posture isn't great, I'm balding, but every day I think I become more comfortable with who I am

But as I've progressed into adulthood, I also recognize there is more to life than pleasing or impressing others. Though I still have plenty of anxieties, I don't worry so much about what other people think.


Since the advent of the internet, a new world has unfolded for us to explore. Increasingly, we spend more and more time on apps and social media and inhabiting the lives of others through YouTube. I'm embarrassed to admit, but I probably spend hours each day mindlessly scrolling on Facebook, so much so that I've been thinking I may have a problem.


That said, I don't feel that technology is the enemy. Rather, I'm extremely grateful for tools that help me spell better and use more precise language. I'm a horrible speller; if it weren't for spellcheck, I might never have had the courage to start my blog and express my thoughts.


But I am concerned with the rise of AI—specifically, how AI-generated images have proliferated on Facebook. And I'm disappointed that so many of my Facebook friends seem unable to distinguish between reality and AI.


Here are some of the reasons AI-generated images bother me...


  1. There is an "extreme" quality to AI content. It's either too sweet and nostalgic or too shocking and disturbing. These images seem to be "designed" to manipulate and heighten our emotions.

  2. AI promotes and encourages our deep-seated bias toward perfection. AI makes it possible for us to recreate reality as we want it... a kind of personal utopia. This is dangerous because it devalues vulnerability and obscures the "unpleasantness" of life. We undoubtedly feel we can never measure up when we can't see the whole picture, including the mistakes. The constant quest for perfection sets us up for inevitable disappointment and hopelessness.


Imagine a world where everyone projected perfection. Perfect skin, smart kids, all glittery and "fake." Of course, Facebook is already there, lol. We ALL disproportionately showcase the highlights of our lives and smooth out the defects. But AI will only amplify this problem- as our tools for achieving perfection will be so much more powerful.


We value what is rare. When flaws and defects become rare, we will long for the "good ole days" when folk's teeth weren't perfect or when people were pleasantly plump. BTW, these new drugs like Ozempic will probably make "plumpness" a relic of the past... Our flaws and vulnerabilities are what differentiate us from artificial intelligence.


Now, don't get me wrong. I still strive to express a more polished (more perfect) expression of myself. I still want people to be moved by my writing and music. But I also know that what moves me has shifted. No longer am I as moved by technical brilliance and mastery as I once was. Perfection will be the purview of machines. We won't be able to surpass their performance. AI will eliminate jobs and artistic endeavors that require precision and mastery.


But what will be treasured is the human element, the lack of perfection—the unpredictable and flawed realm of the human mind.


It does seem conceivable that machines will ultimately be programmed with flaws or a certain element of "chaos." However, the emotional dimension will be harder to replicate. I predict the human experience of pain and longing will be much harder for machines to duplicate.


In our increasingly AI-dominated world, we will seek out the imperfections. We will recognize the human element by its flaws. Who cares if you can create a technical masterpiece if AI can recreate it in seconds? No value will be placed on what can be created in seconds. Yet we will be tempted to use AI to help us enhance aspects of ourselves and our creations, but we must be cognizant that it will also dilute our distinct human voice... that essence that makes us a unique individual.




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