It has been almost a year since I posted a new blog post, so it is time. I have spent much of the past several months (when I had time available) working on finding people to take on roles within Lightward Bound. The process has been taking much more time than I had hoped. That is my simple update on what’s been going on at LWB and why I haven’t posted for a while.
Aside from that quick update, I ran across a topic that I want to address with this blog post, though it’s not in line with the topic of political unity that I intend my social media posts to focus on this year.
For several decades, I have been aware of artificial intelligence (AI) as a topic of research. But I have recently become aware of evidence of significant advances in the field that were only dreams years ago. Most recently, I was able to interact with an online artificial intelligence system called ChatGPT, produced by the company Open AI.
My interactions with ChatGPT led to responses that impressed me. I could type in fairly complex questions and it understood them in good detail and, in seconds, gave good responses that could have taken me an hour to think out and type up.
I was also impressed with ChatGPT’s explanation of “light” in the social context. I felt its response was quite in line with Lightward Bound’s long-term goal of infusing light within our culture. Below is part of the interaction I had regarding light:
Emil:
How do you interpret the idea of “light” in a social context?
ChatGPT:
In a social context, the concept of “light” can be interpreted in several ways, often metaphorically:
Positive Influence: “Light” can represent positive influence, goodness, or virtues within a community or society. In this sense, someone or something that brings light to a social context may inspire hope, happiness, and positivity. This could include acts of kindness, compassion, or altruism that brighten the lives of others.
Clarity and Understanding: “Light” can also symbolize clarity and understanding. In social interactions, shedding light on a topic or situation means providing insight or knowledge that helps others comprehend or navigate it better. This can involve sharing information, perspectives, or experiences to promote understanding and empathy among individuals or groups.
Transparency and Openness: Another interpretation of “light” in a social context relates to transparency and openness. Just as light exposes what is hidden in darkness, transparency in social interactions fosters trust, honesty, and accountability. Individuals or organizations that operate with transparency are seen as trustworthy and credible members of the community.
Positive Energy and Vibrancy: “Light” can also signify positive energy and vibrancy within social settings. This could manifest in lively conversations, joyful gatherings, or collaborative efforts that energize and uplift participants. In this sense, bringing light to a social context involves fostering a sense of vitality, enthusiasm, and engagement.
Overall, the idea of “light” in a social context conveys notions of positivity, clarity, transparency, and vitality that contribute to the well-being and cohesion of communities and societies.
(ChatGPT 3.5, 28 Feb 2024)
While this example of how AI can understand and create is impressive, it brings up an important issue that needs to be addressed. As an organization that exists to spread light throughout our culture, Lightward Bound will have to consider how light can be spread or opposed by AI.
As AI research and development continues to make advances, many who desire to spread light through their work, will find many ways to use artificial intelligence to do so. Perhaps one possibility could be a social media website that uses AI to identify concerning moods as a user interacts through posts, comments, or likes (etc.) It could then initiate a process that helps lift the mood of the individual by calling on community members to contact the person to let him/her know people care or to spend some time chatting or doing some other activity that could lift the individual’s mood. Perhaps such an AI system on a social media platform could intervene on behalf of a user to block hurtful posts before the user sees them.
The possibilities are endless when considering how AI might be used to spread light or mitigate darkness. But equally true is that there are many ways AI, in the wrong hands, could be used to bring darkness. What someone can do to hurt or take advantage of others online could be done using artificial intelligence.
It is essential that, as a society, we learn to value light and make it a social norm for all our work, relationships, and interactions. With such a universal norm, those creating AI and those who use it would seek ways to build it and use it so that light–not darkness–is what comes through.
Light will always be an essential catalyst for longstanding unity among our people. And unity is something our nation needs in order to maintain it greatness and prosperity and to bring the greatest happiness to its people.