More not Less with AI

I want to lead with a question for you to ponder as you read today:  Where does wisdom come from?

Is it technology or is it human?

In the book Proverbs, it is written that Wisdom was there when the world was created. It has been around as long as the Earth.

In the age of information and the evolution of AI, many make a chatbot, or a device, the source of wisdom.

Even at that, one might question whether technology creates and distills wisdom.

Jeff Burningham sought to clarify questions people might have about AI. He'd “write the book I would want to read if I plopped onto the Earth today.”

As the title of his book suggests, the book is human-written.  It is about human experience and evolution, the essence of wisdom.

Earlier this week, I was chatting with a member of the IDL Roundtable community who is a new father.  And even though we never bracketed our conversation as being centered on wisdom, it was precisely that.

He shared with me how his son and wife are doing, and how, as a family, they have noticed people have softened, things have become more relevant, and the clarity of being a parent.

All experiences I can relate to and reflect on.

Then there is the instinctual wisdom.  Understanding how to care for a baby that appears almost instantaneously.  The giftings implanted into us by our own parents.

He was almost in awe of how it appeared.

Wisdom was there before he was born; it appeared when it was needed, cultivated, and harvested.

It's inside of us and others, not a machine.

Presence not Presents

Presence is the conduit of wisdom. The way humans pass wisdom is through interactions.  We can read about wisdom, but in practice, it is as good as a ChatGPT response that is ignored.

Wisdom must be expressed through words, actions, and living.

When you sit across from someone, chat, ask questions, and share your responses to theirs, wisdom is cultivated.

Technology is a gift to humanity.  It allows me to write and deliver this message to you.  But if we forsake human interaction for the benefits of technology, we lose.  We lose wisdom!

The benefit of AI is that it can allow people to be more present.  To engage and interact more.

Gateway to Wisdom

If wisdom is human, what keeps it locked away? My thought: the response to our experiences.  Our hurts, shame, and insecurities block wisdom from taking hold of our souls.

Whatever causes people to lock themselves up limits the amount of wisdom they can absorb and express.

Wisdom flows through open gateways.

The key to opening the lock is to reflect on ourselves and gain a new perspective.  This is hard.

It often takes a soul-shaking, view-changing moment.

Welcoming a new son, a new grandchild, losing an election, a company, or a relationship.

Each of these causes deep reflection, and when we embrace them, we will find the roots of wisdom deep within us.

As we water and fertilize the plant and interact with others, it will grow, eventually producing some fruit.

Technology doesn't create wisdom; it merely reflects the wisdom of its creator.

Humans don’t create wisdom; we merely radiate the wisdom of our creator.

We can find and express more wisdom with the help of AI when we spend more time with people, not less.

Did you catch this podcast? If not, listen to it here.