Food For Thought No. 15
Power & Questions, Informed Optimism, and Integrity
Good morning!
Happy Spring, one of my favourite things is the juxtaposition of the new growth of spring against the backdrop of winter.
Here are 3 ideas to explore, 2 things to read, and 1 reflective set of questions:
1. Explore
I. Agency, Power & Questions in the age of AI.
As we all think about the intended and unintended consequences of ChatGPT and generative AI, we are left to wonder what will this shift mean for society? I read a fascinating piece, thanks to a brilliant friend and former colleague Samantha, on the fact that Generative AI does not actually contain “true intelligence” but rather has the agency to appear so. I am so interested to see how we will we adjust to this new reality? Luciano Fortelli reminds us of the prophetic 1984 novel written by George Orwell:
“ Power as the control of questions, because, to para-phase 1984 whoever controls the questions controls the answers and whoever controls the answers controls reality.”
I am curious as to how this AI agency will impact our lives and our pursuit of “truth”. Power and the control of questions and answers is not a new paradigm, we are in many ways living the future, in part. One could argue, our media is already controlled by AI, algorithms and the machine.
Asking the right questions will become an ever more important skill and responsibility. Will we learn to question content and look deeper for sources of truth and attribution? In a strange way, perhaps this will increase the value and perceived need for a reform to education. Will it bring a deeper recognition that learning to ask the right questions is more important than learning rote facts? My highest hope is that the value of critical thinking, creativity and empathy as skills we must invest in will become more urgent in this AI infused future. Often things we take for granted, when taken away, become ever more valued.
II. Informed Optimism
A friend was asking how do I stay optimistic amidst the depressing, scary news cycle and the tremendous challenges our society appears to be facing?
My answer - While often not easy to do, I remind myself that without informed optimism, is there any other way to solve problems? There is nothing worse to me than giving up and prescribing to a dreaded future. People need to believe that a better future is possible to give a damn about trying to make it so.
III. Why We Create
Most creative people are driven by something more, a calling or purpose. I love this quote
recently shared from Steve Jobs biography (@Walter Isaacson). It eloquently shares a beautiful notion that creativity is connected to contribution, gratitude, expression of ourselves and the interconnectedness of our species.
2. Things to Read/Listen to this week:
I. Integrity = Energetic Wholeness & Aliveness
A refreshing and thought provoking take on the notion of integrity that led to some game changing conversations with my team, my partner and my kids.
“When you ask most people what integrity means, they'll usually say “doing the right thing,” which has a moral or ethical orientation. We're going back to the word integrity evolved from: integer, defined as "whole" or "complete.," which has no moral or ethical connotations. We thus define—and more importantly, operationalize—integrity as energetic wholeness. Energetic wholeness leads to full aliveness. When we are "in integrity," we're energetically whole and fully alive.”
- Jim Dethmer 👉 Listen here
II. Living Beautifully (with Uncertainty & Change)
A 45th bday present from a wonderful friend recently (thank you Jodi), this book is a gentle reminder than no matter what the circumstance, we can choose to live beautifully and without suffering.
“We have a choice. We can spend our whole life suffering because we can't relax with how things really are, or we can relax and embrace the open-endedness of the human situation, which is fresh, unfixated, unbiased.”
― Pema Chödrön, Living Beautifully: with Uncertainty and Change
3. A Reflective Set of Questions
What questions do you need to be asking right now?
What is one thing you are EXCITED for as a result of this AI infused future? Where can you be part of the solution?
How can you lean more into your own integrity (aka wholeness/aliveness) this week?
In what area of your life can you live more beautifully, without suffering?
Wishing you a wonderful week!
Candice
p.s thanks for reading, it is a joy to write these.