There is always another book to read, or another point of view to be considered. That is why even people way smarter than me have little about which they can be certain: Our lives are guided by our beliefs, which in my case seem always to be in a state of flux. In other words, life is a never-ending learning process: And that is a good thing. But what I miss in my old age is the opportunity to discuss the new ideas that pop into my mind — ideas about a whole range of topics, including my evolving faith in a power greater than myself. My circle of still-living friends is sadly growing smaller, leaving fewer and fewer people I know well enough to have such deeply personal conversations, which build on the experiences we shared over the years. So, I journal daily, and write guest columns to the Gazette, thereby engaging in a process that exposes to me the thoughts that seem to make little sense, as well as the beliefs that give meaning to my life.
As I write this, I recall a few days ago when an uninvited comment popped up on the page I was typing on my computer asking if I would like to rewrite the paragraph with the help of “co-pilot.” Hell no! What I wrote may have been awkwardly worded, or grammatically flawed, but it was what I wanted to say. Imagine if during a deeply personal conversation your friend’s response to you was “Would you like to reword what you just told me to conform with the guidance found in the “Harbrace Handbook of English?” (a required textbook when I was in college and when participles were not allowed to dangle) I know I would feel diminished, saddened by my friend’s lack of empathy; yet that is what AI is about.
The point I am trying to make is that there is no substitute for empathetic concern in what we express to others, and in how others communicate with us. Our ability to be creative, and to express personal emotions is a key factor separating us from other forms of animal life: and we are rushing to give that up: to relinquish our humanity, to surrender our creativity; stifle our sense of empathy — for what? To have more time to play computer games?
The philosopher Descartes wrote “Cogito ergo sum,” meaning I think, therefore I am. So, assuming he is correct, by what calculus are we willing to give up our very existence? I suggest that it may be the same calculus that promotes banning books, requires teaching distilled versions of history, prohibits unflattering displays in museums, encourages our children to be instructed through electronic devices in order to be programmed to score well on standardized tests so that learning becomes a competitive exercise rather than an exciting adventure.
I suggest that we have been bamboozled into believing that electronic devices in the classroom will help our children to succeed in life, when in fact, just the opposite is true, based on countless reports of disappointing student performance. In addition, as Jonathan Haidt explains in “The Anxious Generation,” electronic devices are causing “an epidemic of mental illness” among children. And in “The Digital Delusion” Jared Cooney Horvath dives deeply into the ways the over-use of technology in the classroom interferes with the learning process.
A few years back I had the honor to serve with a group of dedicated, hardworking, concerned school committee members, who worked tirelessly to provide the best for the students they served, but who disagreed amicably with my objections regarding standardized tests and computers. These good people were well informed about the research of that time that did not support my assertions, and I have high regard and respect for their diligence and good faith. I wish that I had the information that I now have, so that I could have done a better job of articulating my concerns for their consideration. In other words, I think that the school boards, teachers and administrators with whom I interacted may not have agreed with me, but had I been better informed, I am certain they would have been more willing to discuss my concerns.
I am not saying I was right and they were wrong. I am, however, saying that we need to find space to interact with each other in order to address our concerns with empathy and mutual respect: Something that AI cannot do.
Jim Palermo lives in Southampton.