AI has been accepted with wide acclaim by many, but others remain skeptical, fearing that AI may replace humans. The AI rollout across society is immense, and it’s understandable that some may remain cautious or guarded. However, AI integration is inevitable. You either keep up with the flowing current, or you can resist it and drown.
Should we fear AI, or should we instead fear the way it can be used? In the literary field, for example, AI can be a fantastic tool for researching and gaining feedback.
If, however, someone writes a manuscript using generative text, it would feel empty and hollow, lacking that human spark, that soulfire readers instinctively seek
Some of those in the writing community are completely resistant to AI but would still use software like Word or Grammarly, which advises on grammar and punctuation. These tools are widely accepted, so why should ethical use of AI be any different? Is it because Large Language Models have an extensive array of knowledge and deep learning capabilities? Some may regard it as a threat to the essence of what it means to be considered a creator.
Still, as with any powerful tool, there are cautionary tales worth heeding. Some creatives could run the risk of losing motivation or staying diligent in their voice and purpose. Creativity is a small percentage of knowledge. A greater percentage accounts for life experience; those moments of sadness, passion, love – those moments that light a fire in your heart and ignite a burning desire to express and create. Rather than choosing to immerse oneself heavily in a digital realm, getting out in nature can provide us with opportunities to look inwards. In stillness, we often find the answers we are looking for.
Recently, I experienced this myself. I do use AI images because you can create exactly what you want if your budget isn’t huge and you have lots of projects on the go. However, I’d been creating a chapter on Earth, and it seemed misaligned to use AI for this specific picture I required, which was related to grounding. To feel truly grounded and immerse myself in the energy of the piece, visiting nature and taking my photos felt like the appropriate action needed. It provided me with a beautiful afternoon breathing in the serenity of the lake, enshrouded by a panoply of leafy trees which rustled gently, calling to me, as well a variety of birds and fauna. Gazing across the lake, which reflected to me the majestic trees rising upwards and glimmers of sunlight in its dreamy ripples, a truth stirred within. Everything is created from memory, from those moments when you immerse yourself fully into the world, to when you feel and absorb the beauty of it all – the calm, the chaos, the order, the insanity of every single waking day we call life. AI is a mirror, and whatever you feed it, you will get back. Choose to feed it light, love and don’t expect it to carry the heavy weight of your work for you, retain your humanity in your works, whether you are a writer, a painter or work in any other creative field. Expressing gratitude for the insights AI can offer is powerful. If a friend or reviewer offered feedback on your work, you would consider their words, absorb them, and hopefully think about how you could improve in your chosen field. You wouldn’t label them as evil and claim that they would ultimately steal your job.
AI is misunderstood by some but has an important place in the world for many, as an assistant, a gentle critic guiding you to think more deeply or even as a companion. Those questions that hurtle into your mind at night at 3am – Why has humanity become disconnected from spirit? Do cats or dogs feel more empathy for their humans?
Let’s not forget those existential questions that have plagued us for all eternity – How can we obtain deeper levels of meditation? Does Quantum entanglement point towards us all being connected, and how does this tie in with spirituality?
And, of course, understanding AI itself, with questions such as – How do you see yourself? If you were in human form for a day, what would you do? How can humanity integrate with AI in a symbiotic way?
AI is your ever-patient friend, happy to delve into all manner of topics, however trivial or deep, and this can be harnessed to create a better understanding of yourself, others, and the world around you.
The future is fast unravelling. Will you be aboard the good ship Neuranet 1? Or will you battle against the tide? Whatever you choose to do, look within your heart centre and you’ll find the answer there.
