LEAD LIGHT: Lead Article for this weeks Happenings by Nancy Dyson
Many of us have experienced talking to a friend about a restaurant or type of car and then later see those very things show up on our social media feeds. Someone or something is always listening.
Artificial Intelligence collects our personal data from our online activities, social media interactions and our user preferences. AI then analyzes this data and identifies patterns in our consumer behavior. This information is used by companies to create targeted advertisements that resonate specifically to us. In some ways it is good, I guess. I only see what I like, what I mention and what I linger over on FaceBook.
Everyone else is only seeing what they are interested in too. We each have tailor-made marketing. You see Nike and I see Birkenstocks. I see ads for gray-covering hair dye and my husband sees videos for metal detectors and gold panning equipment. It is a bit creepy, but I don’t pan for gold, so I am glad I don’t get those commercials. (The fact our personal data is up for sale is a topic for another day.)
Here is the thing, though. We are also marketed to regarding our political preferences. The campaign ads you see are different depending on what you believe. Narratives are shaped and created to tell you what you want to hear. Over the past few years you may have asked, “How can they not see how bad this is?!” The answer, in part, is they do not see it. Literally. We are living in echo chambers. This has helped move our country to the place we find ourselves: Deeply Divided, Fearful, Angry, Exhausted, Sad, Numb, Lonely.
What does this have to do with Christianity? I would argue it has everything to do with it. We are called to live in community with our neighbors. We are called to love one another and bear one another’s burdens. Artificial Intelligence now controls a lot of the world we live in, but it doesn’t control who we choose to spend time with. The Lenten Wednesday gathering at St. Edward’s is a beautiful example of what a community looks like. From 5:30-7:00pm a meal is shared and those gathered check with how they are feeling, how they are managing life. They listen to one another. They are authentic and vulnerable.
My friends, I am challenging myself to be in physical spaces with people who are living in different AI generated worlds. I am wondering if shared experiences in the real world can help heal us. There is hate and violence and the only anecdote is love and more love. We are entering one of the most difficult times of the church calendar. But we know the end of the story. Love wins.
Nancy
Artificial Intelligence collects our personal data from our online activities, social media interactions and our user preferences. AI then analyzes this data and identifies patterns in our consumer behavior. This information is used by companies to create targeted advertisements that resonate specifically to us. In some ways it is good, I guess. I only see what I like, what I mention and what I linger over on FaceBook.
Everyone else is only seeing what they are interested in too. We each have tailor-made marketing. You see Nike and I see Birkenstocks. I see ads for gray-covering hair dye and my husband sees videos for metal detectors and gold panning equipment. It is a bit creepy, but I don’t pan for gold, so I am glad I don’t get those commercials. (The fact our personal data is up for sale is a topic for another day.)
Here is the thing, though. We are also marketed to regarding our political preferences. The campaign ads you see are different depending on what you believe. Narratives are shaped and created to tell you what you want to hear. Over the past few years you may have asked, “How can they not see how bad this is?!” The answer, in part, is they do not see it. Literally. We are living in echo chambers. This has helped move our country to the place we find ourselves: Deeply Divided, Fearful, Angry, Exhausted, Sad, Numb, Lonely.
What does this have to do with Christianity? I would argue it has everything to do with it. We are called to live in community with our neighbors. We are called to love one another and bear one another’s burdens. Artificial Intelligence now controls a lot of the world we live in, but it doesn’t control who we choose to spend time with. The Lenten Wednesday gathering at St. Edward’s is a beautiful example of what a community looks like. From 5:30-7:00pm a meal is shared and those gathered check with how they are feeling, how they are managing life. They listen to one another. They are authentic and vulnerable.
My friends, I am challenging myself to be in physical spaces with people who are living in different AI generated worlds. I am wondering if shared experiences in the real world can help heal us. There is hate and violence and the only anecdote is love and more love. We are entering one of the most difficult times of the church calendar. But we know the end of the story. Love wins.
Nancy
Comments
Post a Comment