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If I were asked to uncover the decline of America’s thinking and writing, I believe I would point to the cultural changes of family and parenting that started soon after the presence of television in our homes. When writers such as Walter Lippman, Alan Bloom and Christopher Lasch observed the growing number of people dependent on technology, they noticed the emergence of a powerlessness<\/span>[1]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and a fragility.<\/span><\/p>\n \n In earlier cultures, many families and parents directed their children to depend upon good books, relationships with others and with God for information, advice, wisdom, and pleasurable conversation. But in a highly advancing technological society, people\u2019s first inclination when faced with a dilemma, a question, even a frustration is to open up Google, search the internet or verbally ask Siri. \u00a0In fact, now we can type in a topic or question for AIChatGPT and an entire essay can be written.<\/span><\/p>\n \n It didn\u2019t take long until writers noticed the lack of reading books turning people\u2019s strengths into weakness as Alan Bloom noted in\u00a0<\/span>The Closing of the American Mind,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe failure to read good books both enfeebles the vision and strengthens our most fatal tendency\u2013the belief that the here and now is all there is.\u201d<\/span>[2]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Christopher Lasch continues the thought with more clarity: \u201cWith our growing dependence on technologies no one seems to understand or control our rise to feelings of powerlessness and victimization. We find it more and more difficult to achieve a sense of continuity, permanence or connection with the world around us. Relationships with others are notably fragile\u201d<\/span>[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n \n What Are the Dangers of AI?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \n Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I shared the above quote with a speech therapist friend who works with children ages birth to 6 years old. \u00a0Her response? If parents stopped handing their children a device every time they wanted their child occupied, she\u2019d be out of a job. \u00a0When I pressed her further she claimed any form of technology keeps a child from speaking well and interacting with other human beings verbally.<\/span>[4]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>As I listened to Sal Khan\u2019s TED talk<\/span>[5]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0on how using AI promotes positive transformation, I reflected on one of his arguments: AI brings life to education. He said in his program AI doesn\u2019t write for you, it writes with you. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \n Might the idea of AI enhancing a student\u2019s writing skills be sacrificing conversation for mere efficiency? \u00a0In 2015, Sherry Turkle wrote\u00a0<\/span>The New York Times<\/span>\u00a0bestseller,\u00a0<\/span>Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age,\u00a0<\/span>a perceptive book noting how phones in hand, we turn away from our children, friends, and coworkers, even from ourselves.<\/span>[6]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The danger is that artificial intelligence is being offered as a sociable companion. As Turkle warns, \u201cWhat is at stake is precious, the most precious things that people know how to offer each other.\u201d<\/span>[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n \n What are the Limits of AI?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \n Sal Kahn also points out another way AI could save (not destroy) education when he demonstrates how AI utilizes \u201cSocratizing\u201d by asking students questions as a teacher would.<\/span>[8]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0 Apparently, children can be schooled in how to have conversations with a machine that may broadly banter but doesn\u2019t comprehend a student\u2019s meaning at all. \u00a0The limitation of AI is it can know our schedules, the literal content of our email, our preferences in food and drink and shows, and can sense our bodily movements\u2013but AI won\u2019t deeply understand what or why any of these things mean to us personally. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \n What Are the Possibilities of AI?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \n If we\u2019re going to build a culture in which we are more efficient by using AI, then what past practices do we keep to ensure our meaning is understood? \u00a0Being understood seems to be a universal cry of the human heart in 2023. Julian Treasure\u2019s words rang in my ears while I read about AI when he wrote about the problem he sees, \u201cKey forces working against listening noise is a chief complaint.\u201d<\/span>[9]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0 The possibilities of AI in education may be achieved by ensuring students still engage in listening and that human voices are still used as instruments.<\/span><\/p>\n \n Recently, I learned how to play the online video game Rubicon. \u00a0Two weeks ago, a younger relative met me on Zoom while we shared screens. \u00a0I needed to learn the game for a \u00a0work project as I was struggling in mastering the strategies. After reading the directions online, I started playing the game. Not only did I lose, I was defeated quickly. \u00a0At face value, the game presents itself as if the winner just conquers the most territory by connecting the dots as quickly as possible. \u00a0Easy enough, right? \u00a0Nope. \u00a0Watching my relative win against the computer time and again (and hearing his voice), I figured out what I was missing: \u00a0I learned to take a defensive approach by stopping my opponent from taking over certain sides and lines on the board first! \u00a0Defense mode had to drive me the second the game started. \u00a0Once I figured out what I was doing wrong and how to play the game from a defensive position, I quickly held back my opponent. \u00a0I learned how to play Rubicon by watching a master game player win and by asking pointed questions along the way. AI served me well by saving me hours of trying to figure out something on my own. But the sound of a human being\u2019s voice and being understood for what I meant left me feeling strong and powerful. \u00a0Maybe we can try to build a future of both.<\/span><\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \n [1]<\/a>\u00a0Bloom,\u00a0<\/span>The Closing of the American Mind<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n [2]<\/a>\u00a0Bloom,\u00a0<\/span>The Closing of the American Mind<\/span>. p.64<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n [3]<\/a>\u00a0Lasch,\u00a0<\/span>The Culture of Narcissism<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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