WHILE WE STILL HOLD ON

As a student of the liberal arts, I fear ChatGPT. What will happen to the value of my degree and my future career? I have no clue.

The thought of being replaced by Artificial Intelligence software sounds almost fantastical, with a sprinkle of delusion. But it is so real because it is creeping up on us, declaring this war between humans and technology.

I wonder if we even know where we are headed with the instruments we have and are so eager to employ, because it seems like we are losing control. It seems like we, as the creators of A.I., are being consumed by the technology we so desperately chased after and idealized.

I don’t think this is what science is supposed to be, an imposing force of exploitation and advancement. I pictured an image of harmony, a culture of listening to what nature is revealing to us humans as inhabitants of Earth. But somewhere along the way, we forgot that the joy of life on Earth is not a right, but a privilege. We are here today because our ancestors were attentive to their surroundings and dwelled with consciousness, with open eyes and ears. Meanwhile, we are losing this ability to observe and listen.

being in this world, can engage with it and think. And that is the essence of science, not a reductive definition that we are conditioned to associate it with. What it means to be human is to think in solitude and think with others. Science is our chance to be great with this great gift of thinking.

We are following the orders of technology without second thoughts.

ChatGPT feeds us information while we devour it like nutrients when it’s really preventing us from thinking. Instead of thinking before the rise of A.I., we turn to a machine to give us answers, letting it be the judge of our decisions. We are losing the ability to innovate as residents of this world. We are trapped in the cycle of exploiting and being exploited. Nature is losing her patience with us, and we don’t seem to care.

Let’s rethink the goals of science. Not just forward motion with no regard for the integrity of learning. Anyone, as a

Let’s start being aware of the world and restore our relationship with this place we call home for genuine science. Right now, we are looking but do not see. We rely on technology and machines to guide us when we should be the ones leading. We turn to AI for advice while we neglect the presence of others. We are ignoring the warnings from nature and pursuing a blind ambition of domination. Our relationships with ourselves, with others, and with the world are in pieces. Their fragility worsens as we keep breaking them and never give them enough time to heal. At one point, it will be too late, and there will be no saving power there to rescue us. The arrogance of man still believes we have complete control over science, but the truth is that the domination of either science or man is not the answer. Our relationship with technology is a delicate one. One misstep and we might get forever lost in the greedy search for omnipotence. Taking a step back and recognizing the value in what we have left might not be a sign of regression, but of active reflection and meditation. Pause before we take more while we still hold on.

By Helenna Xu