What do you think about Chat GPT as a writing aid? My career has had many twists and turns but writing has always been at the center of it. Speeches, public policy reports, issues, analysis, books, links, manuscripts, newspaper columns, academic papers, and more have been at the core of my communicating ideas to others. Writing Country Parson for the last 15 years has been a rewarding part of my life. It brings me great joy and it’s hard work. I have to do a fair amount of research, check my sources, and put heart and soul into words.
Why not use Chat GPT to provide a little help? All I would have to do is suggest a subject and word length, and within a few seconds, I would have the draft of a paper more or less in my style. Then I could mess with it to make it something I could claim as my own. Think of all the time saving that would provide. Think of how much more writing I could get done. After all, it’s only a matter of efficiency, isn’t it?
The problem for me is that the product would lack all integrity. I would not be invested in the hard work of doing research, verifying information, learning something new, and pondering the deeper meaning of what I’ve discovered. There would be no sense of accomplishment in having translated thoughts into words and carefully examining them to see that they say what I wanted them to say. Of course, as a blind guy that last part is something of a problem anyway. It’s why I rely on my wife to do some heavy editing that includes telling me when my words are not making any sense.
The late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks said there are three elements to a happy life. The first is struggle, the second is contentment, and the third is a healthy social life. I think he had something in that. Struggle has to be a part of life if we are to become as fully human as possible. Using artificial intelligence to deprive us of the struggle to create and understand also diminishes some of the fullness of the humanity into which we can grow. By no means does that imply we should do things in the most difficult and old-fashioned way possible. Technologies that improve human efficiency and unnecessary forms of work are important in every way. I am reminded of Benedictine monks and American shakers who developed many technological advancements to relieve them of repetitive work so that they could spend more time in study and prayer. Our generations have done much the same with industrial robotics and computer assisted design. The Internet makes it possible for me to do a lot of research without having to leave the house. With my lack of vision, most of my books have been donated but Kindle and Apple book libraries have expanded because my iPad can read them out loud to me.
We can and should celebrate all the advantages that new technologies bring to us, but on the other hand, we must recognize that new technologies can have a dark side. Consider the industrial revolution that ripped the humanity out of cottage industries and rural communities. Many were deprived of their ability to become more fully human because they were made into expendable cogs in the new machinery. That was long ago, but are we any better now at paying close attention to how new technologies affect individual and social humanity?
All creation is sacred and our creation in the image of God is the most sacred of all. Every new technology must be used in ways to honor that sacredness, not undermine it. In the past, we have failed to do that as new technologies have been introduced. The consequences were a disgrace to history and did harm of many, but time and attention have allowed us to make amends and do better.
Artificial intelligence is a new technology that will provide an extreme challenge. It has the potential of undermining what it means to be human by depriving us of the essential elements of a happy life: struggle, contentment, and a healthy social life. The three go together and cannot be separated. They depend on each other. If they can flourish with A.I. then so much the better, but let us be wary and careful.
Note: a healthy social life is defined by the strength and integrity of social relationships that include family, friendship, and community. It is a subject worthy of its own discussion, but not here.