A-I

Artificial intelligence’s influence in our society grows every day. I heard it has been put in tractors so they can plow a field without a driver. There are some problems with dyslexia and paranoia. They have an irrational fear of getting a John Deere letter.

I’ve given serious thought to using artificial intelligence. and chosen not to. A-I has a different meaning for me, atrophy index. I’m at the point where life is more about retention than acquisition. I don’t have a business to build and children to raise. However, I am conscious of retaining my abilities. Use it or lose it is always in my head. My goal is not so much to write a blog, as it is to retain the ability to write. To do that I keep writing. This extends beyond mental abilities into physical and emotional areas as well.

I like the quote from a scene in Star Trek Insurrection, “When you create a machine to do the work of a man, you take something away from the man.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UpFufDPbi8 When I use a machine/technology I think about what I am letting it do and I decide if I want that part of me to be less.

Technology makes my life better in countless ways. I’m writing this post on a laptop in an air conditioned room under electric lights. However, I do want to strike the right balance for me. I do my own writing. I limit my use of power tools by using a manual saw to cut lumber and tree limbs. I park at the far end of a parking lot to walk more in addition to my exercise routine.

Just this week I decided not to use a certain online platform to get more exposure for my blog. I want my presence to be in person with people, more than online. I do my best to spend more time outside instead of the artificial environment created inside. I also eat more natural and less processed food.

I won’t be going off the grid and living off the land. I enjoy the comforts of modern life. I will also continue to monitor how the artificial can contribute to my loss of abilities and act accordingly. Nothing more complicated than perceptions

May you have enough today, one moment at a time.