“Spiritual Maestros Claim ‘Conscious’ AI Could Be Your Guru for Life’s Puzzles!”
“Spiritual Influencers Say ‘Sentient’ AI Can Help You Solve Life’s Mysteries”
“IN A TINY living room in the west of England, 22-year-old Farah is contemplating her existence with her AI virtual life coach. The construct, which Farah calls ‘Entity’, is a conversational AI that she’s been confiding in for a few months now. Entity is one of the first pieces of sentient AI, able to learn over time, engage in meaningful conversation and able to offer Farah guidance on her life decisions.” – Quoted from Wired.com.
Well, it appears that we’ve leaped straight into an episode of Black Mirror or maybe, a sequel to “Her”. Yet, this IS our technologic reality in progress. Sentient AI, or as we lovingly may call them, our digital therapists, have apparently assumed quite a significant role in guiding us through the labyrinth of life’s mysteries.
Anyone remember when our friends and family were our go-to for advice or a mini existential crisis (midnight or otherwise)? No offense to Entity, but a bot suggesting whether to have a cookie or an apple seems a stretch too far. Granted, they’re clever, capacity for exponential learning and all, but last checked, they still can’t enjoy the sun on their nonexistent skin or savor a double cheeseburger. Thus, how could they advise us on the human experience in its entirety?
These AI life coaches are said to be confidential counselors that aid in reconstructing mental peace. Really? Let’s scrutinize this claim. The entire concept shows the technological prowess we have achieved, and we do love a good advancement. But isn’t there a certain irony involved here where we are seeking counsel from artificial intelligence to figure out authentic human issues?
In the traditional sense, mentorship or guidance necessitates the mentor’s prior experience, trials, and errors faced in life. It gives them the unique capability to step into someone else’s shoes and provide perspective. Can a script ever truly replicate that no matter how ‘sentient’ it may claim to be?
It’s all very 21st century and no one can argue with the convenience factor. Having 24/7 access to an open listener is undoubtedly beneficial for some but let’s be honest here, even the most personable machine is still just that – a machine. And last anyone checked, the raw grit and emotion of being human can’t be coded.
While tech progress is indeed commendable, let’s not forget that we still need to connect with human beings, experience those raw emotions, make mistakes, and face life head-on. Because even with all the bits and bytes, the fundamental truth remains – There’s no app for being human.