Intelligence Augmentation and the Kingdom of Heaven

Two Faces Have I...Says AI.  What does the future hold for humanity, and how will we create the future we want? How is technology driving our decisions?  

Do we understand AI's good, bad, and ugly sides? Are We Ready For Change? What does Catholic Social Teaching tell us about AI? What lessons can we learn about emerging technology from Cardijn, Merton, Nolan, Bonhoeffer, and others?

The era of Artificial Intelligence is here, and we don't know how to think about it…any of it.

Fortunately, there is more of the excellent news vs the bad news: 

AI will not destroy the world, but it may save it. Save us and what we do to ourselves. As long as we are in control.

So, what is it that we are all afraid of?

First, for today, we should stop calling it AI (Artificial Intelligence) and call it what it is:  Intelligence Augmentation (IA). It is not a form of intelligence that exists independently of humans. It is software that augments our ability to discover, innovate, educate, and, most importantly, collaborate. Understanding and control are vital to using IA responsibly and effectively.

The SEE, JUDGE, and ACT methods are invaluable in discerning and judging IA in an Age of Emerging Technology. They provide a structured approach that can guide us using IA to promote prosperity, purpose, and the common good.

Things have drastically changed since the Internet first appeared. Compare that to the current AI world.

Software was king in the world of the Internet. It is what made it grow and develop.

Now, compare that to the development of IA today.

IA is like "selling rice," meaning there isn't much product differentiation. 

Heck, anyone can turn out and make an "LLM," 

Is IA all about commodification? Yes, it is, and if we keep that perspective in mind when examining and understanding the technology, we will deal with it rationally, primarily if we use the SJA method.

The wonders of IA are all around us. Many are programmed into your phone, and others you read about during the week. 

Everyone is talking about IA, which is significant because it is fascinating. Some advancements have been so promising that they give us hope for problems we thought were long lost, and others grant us excitement for our lives.

Our civilization is built on technology. As a priest, Joseph Cardijn found himself in a world of emerging technology. He saw how it was being used, but only sometimes for the greater good. The same is occurring today. 

The See Judge Act method is critical for applying to emerging technology, especially intelligence augmentation.

Technology is the driving force behind much of human ambition and achievement, the advances in our culture, and the realization of our potential as human beings with intelligence.

For hundreds of years, we properly glorified this—until recently. Fear of change enters our lives, especially when we see how fast change occurs in the world around us. This is why the SJA method is critical to understanding what is happening.

We Christians believe growth is progress, for the most part, and using the SJA method should lead to vitality, expansion of life, increasing knowledge, and higher well-being.

I am a Techno-Optimist who believes that technologies and societies, like humans, grow or die. And with growth and death comes the next big thing.

We have experienced progress, which has led to vitality, expansion of life, increasing knowledge, and a better understanding of the greater good for all humans.

If we use the SJA method properly, we will realize that growth is not about stagnation, which leads to zero-sum thinking, internal fighting, and division in the world. Emerging technology and new tools, such as intelligence augmentation, are now at our doorsteps. How do we manage and use them to enhance people's lives, care for the planet, and find purpose in our lives, fostering prosperity for the common good of all human beings? 

What the Greeks called techne – has always been the primary source of social growth, phase change, and the development of industries. Technology has always been a driver of productivity. We need to make sure it is for the greater good of society.

If we use the SJA method properly, we understand that technology is a lever in the world – the way to make more with less. It's a reminder that if we use the SJA method properly, we can drive technological progress as productivity growth for the greater good: 

How much more can we produce yearly with fewer inputs and raw materials? 

Productivity growth, powered by technology, is the primary driver of societal growth, wage growth, enhanced living conditions, and the creation of new industries. As old industries die, the next big thing is a new industry. With new industries come new and exciting jobs that challenge us as humans, people, society, and culture. Will technology free us up to do more to bring about the kingdom of Heaven? To do more meaningful and purposeful activities for the greater good.  

Suppose we start using the SJA method to understand the technology and drive the greater good for humans. If we do, intelligence augmentation may help us understand how to bring about the kingdom of Heaven here and now.

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