Table of Contents
Ready to Publish
Ready to Publish
Publish Date
Mar 12, 2023
Slug
dont_be_an_ai_jerk
Personal musings on the excitement around AI and how others can inadvertently see my opinionated passion less than favorably.
I'm not a Zen Buddhist, but I greatly respect their philosophies on how we live and treat others. Zen Buddhism teaches us to be self-aware, focus on the present moment, and let go of attachments and desires. I'm still working on that last one; I'm attached to my technology, and It's part of my identity, for better or worse.
Today, in Substack Reads, I discovered a newsletter, CMOON, by Cristina Moon on Zen Buddhism practice, and the issue title caught my eye, On Being a Zen Jerk. Cristina shares her views on why it's essential to be mindful of how she discusses Zen Buddhism with others to avoid coming off the wrong way and how it's possible to be a Zen jerk even though you are trying to help or share information, depending on how you share your knowledge.
Zen and Jerk are not two words I would have normally put together, but Cristina made a valid point to be cautious about how we engage with others on topics we are knowledgeable and passionate about.
It occurred to me, that the lessons in the article correlate to how I discuss and view technology, especially since I’m opinionated and passionate about such topics. I need to be mindful not to come off as an AI or technology jerk. Too many technology people already talk down to others when discussing tech. I want to help people learn how new technology, like AI, can help them be better at various tasks, not show what I know that they don’t. I must be careful, however, not to let my enthusiasm come off as the latter.
I associate my identity (for better or worse) with creativity and technology, so I naturally embrace and apply the latest new tech to everything in my personal and professional life. I will admit that sometimes I get too excited too quickly. I also sometimes become bored with technology before the mainstream realizes its potential.
Finding the right balance between lunatic excited, you’re crazy if you don’t use this, and a calm explanation of this is a new tool that helps me do X is not always easy. Which mode I’m in at the time will impact how others receive what I’m trying to share with them. Besides, there’s still so much we don’t know, or I don’t know about AI, and if the latest Bing examples are any indication, there’s still much to learn.
While I am a technology optimist and believe humans can do more good than bad with AI, new AI technology will disrupt at least as much as it will transform.
These changes are a paradigm shift in how we work and live and will impact people, good and bad. The fear, uncertainty, and doubt surrounding artificial intelligence technology makes it easier than ever to touch a nerve or come off wrong.
I love how Cristina described the importance of not expecting Zen to solve all your problems. Let's pepper what we similarly say about AI, reminding those we’re evangelizing to and ourselves that AI isn’t the cure for anything. It’s just another tool, a really cool tool, but just a tool.
If you've come to Zen looking for a way to make yourself a better person, then what you've found is not a cure-all for all of your bad habits and delusional thinking, but rather, a beautiful set of tools. How you use those tools is up to you. —Cristina Moon, Zen priest
Remembering that we are just beginning the AI journey in mainstream society is important. The booster rockets for AI, Quantum computers, are still in their infancy, but when they arrive with sufficient power, AI will get wings. Until then, we have some cool tools to make use more efficient.
So, I will do my best to reign in my excitement and instead focus on using these new tools to make me a little better today than I was yesterday. Maybe that's the best way to help others, by example.
Many ideas get dismissed because they are delivered in a cocky or hostile or dismissive tone—or because of who delivers them.
Separate substance from style. —James Clear
Be humble. Be kind. Keep an open mind. ✌️
Written by
Coffee & Curiosity | Creative Technologist | Photographer | Mixing decades of business insight and tacit knowledge with philosophy and the latest in tech. Ever an early adopter, forever a student.