Post No. 21: Artificial Intelligence

This is the first of several posts on artificial intelligence. This first post will introduce the topic, and also show how one can easily use AI for one’s own personal curiosity and investigations.  The second post on this topic will describe how AI is qualitatively and quantitatively different from past software, and the main elements that make AI possible. The third and perhaps final post will explore concerns about AI, and how AI is similar to and different from human cognition.

Microsoft is currently the leader in providing easy access to a powerful AI. They have made it simple to use the latest chatbot, ChatGpt4.  You can access it from any device, including your smart phone, by simply downloading the Microsoft Edge browser.  There you will find Bing, which is Microsoft’s AI-powered version of its search engine. Then you just speak or type your question into the Bing chat bar that states “ask me anything”.

To demonstrate an actual AI-generated response, I asked a question related to my last post.  Here is the question I asked the AI:

“What are some examples of people who end up giving up responsibility for the behavior in their own lives.   This is what I would call giving up their ability to be Captain of Their Own Ship.”

And here is its response!

“That’s an interesting question. Some examples of people who end up giving up responsibility for the behavior in their own lives are:

• People who blame other people or situations for their misfortunes12 instead of taking charge of their own actions and choices.

• People who make excuses for their failures or shortcomings13 instead of learning from them and improving themselves.

• People who let other people impact them negatively13 instead of setting healthy boundaries and protecting their well-being.

• People who don’t love themselves13 instead of accepting themselves and working on their self-esteem.

• People who waste their time on unproductive or harmful activities13 instead of pursuing their goals and passions.

• People who avoid negative emotions13 instead of facing them and coping with them in healthy ways.

• People who chase happiness with outside attachments13 instead of finding it within themselves and cultivating gratitude.

• People who don’t do what they say they’ll do13 instead of being accountable and reliable.

These are some common ways that people give up their ability to be captain of their own ship. They have an external locus of control2, meaning they feel that they have little or no control over the events of their lives. They feel powerless, helpless, and victimized by life.

On the other hand, people who take full responsibility for their lives have an internal locus of control2, meaning they feel that they have a significant degree of control over the events of their lives. They feel empowered, confident, and proactive in life.

Taking full responsibility for your life means taking full responsibility for everything in your life, regardless of what has happened or why2. It means taking full responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, words, actions, circumstances, and impacts2. It means taking full responsibility for your health, relationships, education, career, finances, choices, behaviors, and free time2.

It’s not easy to do this consistently, but it’s the only way to live a rewarding, productive and fulfilling life. It’s the only way to be the captain of your own ship.🚢

What do you think? Do you agree with this? Do you take full responsibility for your life?”

Amazing, isn’t it.  As a professional counselor and psychotherapist, I can assure you that the answer has no factual errors.  The ancient Greeks, such as Socrates, Seneca, Aristotle, etc. would most likely applaud AI's answer. The AI can and does make errors because it digests a massive amount of data on the Internet to arrive at its answer.  The numbers you see in its answer are references to websites it used to arrive at its conclusion.  If one is ever in doubt about the accuracy of the AI’s response, one can always go directly to the website(s) the AI listed, and make your own determination.

In my last post I pondered whether to create a post on AI or on culture wars. Obviously, I’ve chosen AI, the much safer path.  But what if the AI described its view of the culture wars?  Then no one can jump on me for its answers, and maybe we can all learn something from the AI. For this reason, I asked the AI the following question:

“What are the main topics of the culture wars in the US?”

Here is the AI’s answer:

“The culture wars in the US are a

term that refers to the conflicts between different values, beliefs and identities that shape American society1. Some of the main topics of the culture wars are:

• Abortion rights: The debate over whether women should have the legal right to terminate their pregnancies, and under what circumstances.

• LGBTQ+ rights: The struggle for equality and acceptance of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or other sexual and gender minorities.

• Race and ethnicity: The issues of racial discrimination, systemic racism, police brutality, immigration, multiculturalism and reparations for historical injustices.

• Religion and secularism: The role of religion in public life, education, law and politics, and the challenges posed by secularization and pluralism.

• Education and media: The controversies over what should be taught in schools and universities, how to address diversity and inclusion, and how to deal with misinformation and bias in the media.

These topics are often politicized and polarized, with different groups aligning themselves with either conservative or progressive positions. Some observers argue that the culture wars are a threat to democracy and social cohesion23, while others contend that they are exaggerated or manufactured4.”

It looks like the AI straddled the middle ground in its answer, which is a good thing. One can imagine using the AI’s answer as a springboard toward a fuller discussion among humans!  This is unlikely to happen unfortunately.

I suggest you play with the AI with your own creative questions.  Then you may have more interest in the next post that will explore what makes AI different from our digital experiences to date.