I don’t know what it particularly is, maybe a drive towards high level activating activities to boost dopamine release, but I love to dive into controversial discussions.

There have been a lot of things passing through my system during times of teaching and working as a social worker, at the same time when I was working on my psycho-social disorders and my alcohol reduction up to today as a means to work on my Core and my Recovery.

One of these things has been, as of late even more, the utilization of AI. This is a topic that has – in many ways – been, at the same time – had a very high fascination for me as well as triggering anxiety and insecurity on the other. As the saying goes – “keep your enemies closer than your friends”, I am diving deep into these topics. There have been times I really much confronted myself with fascism, climate change, economic deterioration – only to name a few topics – to shed light on things that would otherwise scare the crap out of me.

Thank you general anxiety disorder and hyperfocus. I wouldn’t know where I’d be without you. Gnarf.

Ok, back to the topic: Today I am a lot more rational than I used to be when diving into these topics, because I had no therapy and no way to put the anxieties into the right context.

Today, however, I am not only older, sober and more resilient, but also more professional about certain topics, especially when it’s about digital media and digitalization.

I know there is the fear that AI means the end to creativity, jobs and maybe even humanity, depending on how much you want to believe alarmists, doomsayers or conspiracy theorists.

I utilize AI as a means to help me stay focused, channel parts of my creativity where I am lacking the time to do it myself and as a means to sort out a couple of things.

I really see it as a tool. But: I read an article recently that claimed something very interesting, something similar to what relying on computer based learning and aids like navigation systems:

Digitalization and computers do not only extend our abilities to think, they take the burden of thinking away from us. And that can have the probable implication that we’ll lose certain abilities.

Take writing on a computer or speech based texting. We lose the ability of handwriting which has a very important function for the neuro-motoric memory which normally enforces linked thinking.

Likewise reading on a digital screen; using navigation systems; and – letting AI do the research and “thinking” about topics to draw logic conclusions.

A German media philosopher, I might want to call him, Manfred Spitzer, claimed that we are entering an age of digital dementia. And I think there is a truth behind that.

But like all “new” technologies, there is not only doom and gloom. It is also a chance.

When the steam locomotive was invented, people feared that passengers in the train would suffer from “velocity madness” (or something like that).

It is not a problem of technology as such. It is a question of how civilization deals with it.

It is about a balanced outlook and a responsible answer to the question of how to utilize it.

Why is that important for me and my blog? Well, because I think there is no normative “right” or “wrong”, but a rational, logical and (at best) scientifically empirical answer as how to deal with the challenges ahead. And that is a very individual question and answer for everyone. And, in this context, important as well: Deal with your own demons first before judging others prematurely.

Until then, take one step at a time and keep up the faith in yourself.

PS: And, yes, of course I am incorporating this topic into a CH short story 😉