Should we have split the atom? It’s a question I liked to ask when I was a classroom teacher and now as a Parish Pastor. Most people rush to the presumption, for good reason, to say “no” due to the its clear connection with nuclear weapons. However, when groups start to reflect on this question, that “no” becomes a bit more murky.
Yes, it is truth that nuclear weapons are one of those things many wish could be uncreated. However, the nuclear sciences also gave birth to more efficient energy creation, potential propulsion systems for space travel and advances in the medical field. As is often the case with questions similar to the nuclear question, the real focus shouldn’t be on whether or not we should have split the atom. The real question should be, we have split the atom – now, how can this be used to help build up society and not destroy it?
I start a piece on Artificial Intelligence with this example of the “nuclear question” because it feels like AI is becoming a true “we split the atom” moment. And I think one of the reasons people are rushing to presumptions, both good and bad, of where this is going is that we’ve crossed this bridge before. Nuclear sciences helped cure my mother of her breast cancer and nuclear bombs were used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yet, there’s an aspect of AI that makes this historic moment more universally impactful (at least in the developed world) than the nuclear sciences. AI is in your pocket and goes with you everywhere if you own a cellphone.
The portability of and daily interaction with AI makes the ethical questions this technology raises just as, if not more impactful than the nuclear sciences. We interact with it every time we do a Google search, check our social media feeds and provide personal information.
In regard to personal information, I’ve been doing spiritual counseling with some young adults who are using dating apps for the purpose of finding a future spouse. I’ve done many a wedding of couples who have met on a dating app so I can see the good that can come from these services. However, I’ve also seen some truly devistating situations that make my 52-year-old, pre-dating app mind react, “When I was in college, I would have never wanted an algorithm to suggest who I should date!” That being said, I did end up as a celibate Catholic Priest… okay, bad Priest humor!
So, what is the solution? Do we become luddites and move completely away from AI and technology? I must admit, there are days I feel that way, but if I were to go down that path I would become a hypocrite. Technology and web-based algorithms probably helped you find this reflection so… Go Algorithms Go??? Well… no, that seems a bit naive. Algorithms are the greatest existential threat of our times and we should do away with them before the movie “Matrix” becomes our reality? Don’t get me wrong, I liked the first movie (the rest were kinda…. blah), but that just seems way to fatalistic.
Still, there’s a dimension to AI that does make the more fatalistic interpretations of our future more resonate: We’ve become a cyber addicted culture. I had a discussion with some of my staff and asked them: If our data provider announced there was a catastrophic failure of our web and phone services combined with the energy company saying they would need to shut off our electricity for a month, how would we do our jobs? There was a moment of knowing silence and an uncomfortable smile when they answered, “We couldn’t do our jobs… or at least we’d have to relearn how to do certain things without technology.”
There’s a recurring axiom in Catholic Social Teaching (CST) that basically asks if a tool serves to build up the human person or is the human person at the service of a tool? An example of this is CST’s understanding of the relationship between economics and humanity: Does an economy of a given country serve to build up its citizen or do the citizens find themselves in a position of servitude to an economy? During the Industrial Revolution, Pope Leo XIII (not the XIV) argued strongly for the dignity of workers by stating that industry is meant to serve as a means to improve human dignity and avoid the trap of people being slaves to industry for the sole purpose of productivity. A good litmus test to see where you are at on this relationship with industry in this: Does what you do define your understanding of self-worth or does who you are define your sense of self-worth?
I could go on, but I think you are getting the gist of where I’m taking you on this reflection. There are more topics I want to explore in regard to AI and what our faith asks of us. For example, one topic I’m going to do a little research on that needs to be explored is the environmental impact of data centers. For now, enjoy this fascinating conversation with Cleo Abram and Demis Hassabis on the good and potential bad of AI. After that, I have also shared a video of Pope Leo XIV answering questions from youth at NCYC (National Catholic Youth Conference). Four of the questions for the Holy Father are about a topic we all struggle with – Our cellphones. The tech questions start at 23:40 of the video.
Have a great Monday!
