3 Things to Apply to Technology Usage and AI
I wrote this whole blog post about things to consider when it comes to AI and technology usage. After I wrote and scheduled the post though, I realized—as my husband calls it— I rambled. While I might have made (what I think are) good points and even link up some sources to read through and consider, I didn’t give any practical things to do. I just dumped a lot of things on you, as the reader, to consider but didn’t share what I think would be practical things to do in regards to AI and technology.
So let’s talk about some things we can do in light of all the considering I asked you to do.
#1 Put Down Your Phone, Pick Up Your Bible
I try to bring a Biblical perspective to my posts. I titled this blog Refinement because I wanted to share how I am being refined in God’s word as I learn and grow in my faith. My last post neglected to show any Biblical perspective. This is why it’s the first practical step. When we’re dealing with anything, we should be finding out what the Bible says about it first.
The Bible doesn’t specifically mention technology. Just like, as those who are pro-abortoin like to argue, the Bible doesn’t specifically mention abortion. However, God’s view of life is clear throughout the Bible and the Bible is clear on how we are known by Him when we are in the womb. Therefore, we know that life starts in the womb and we can infer that God is not okay with abortion.
This is why Biblical literacy is important. When it comes to topics that are not specifically mentioned in the Bible we need to understand the character of God in order to come to a conclusion.
Technology would be classified as a tool. AI would not fall into that same category. I know those in favor of AI would argue. They do believe AI to be a tool, a programmable tool that can make mundane tasks easier. As I see AI infiltrate social media though, there are chatbots that encourage conversations. Can AI really be classified as a tool when part of the usage encourages humans to talk to it as if it was a real person? A hammer is also a tool, but a hammer doesn’t point to a screwdriver and tell me to share my secrets with it. We already have a socialization issue in our culture, we really don’t need to add robots to the mix.
The morality of technology comes with the usage of it by the user. A hammer, when used by a carpenter to build a bench would be a good usage. Someone using a hammer as a weapon would be bad. Technology would fall into the same camp types depending on usage However, technology has become an idol in our society and we’re quicker to pick up our phone than we are to talk to someone, read a book, or even read our Bible.
I believe the first step in learning appropriate tech usage is picking up your Bible instead. Working on my spiritual disciplines really opened my eyes to what was hindering me from being more faithful in them. The amount of times I would pick up my phone when I was doing my Bible reading was astounding.
After you start and maintain a spiritual disciple of regular Bible reading, pick up a book instead. Need recommendations? Just ask me! I have recommendations for days and days and days. (Fiction and Nonfiction alike)
#2 Eliminate the Kiddos Screen Time
I know this one is going to be hard. I can already hear the “but they will be bored” or the “it’s the only thing that keeps them calm while I shop” or some other excuse parents use to give their kiddos screens.
Trust me, I know. I used to be one of the parents with the excuses.
Boredom is okay and as parents, our job is to teach our kids how to handle boredom more than it is to teach them to disassociate from it. Boredom is where creativity begins. Boredom and lack of internet access is the reason I started writing in the first place. Giving them screen time does more harm than good and just because they want something doesn’t mean we should give it to them. If a toddler wants a sip of alcohol, are you really going to let them have it? No, because it wouldn’t be good for them.
What can you do instead?
Send them to play outside
Pick coloring books over iPads
Library trips, park visits, board games
Now, this isn’t a perfect system. We homeschool and my oldest has classes online that require him to be on a computer for them. There are going to be situations where screens are necessary—my youngest has a special iPad he uses to communicate. I don’t think screen time can be fully eliminated but in our house, we have eliminated all the fun uses of it with the exception of special circumstances. My kiddos have been better for it.
#3 Go Outside + Meet People
Those moms you see at the park? Say hi. Introduce yourself to your neighbors (bring a fresh batch of cookies, too!) and invite them to sit outside with you. Start a neighborhood book club if that is more your thing. I think one of the biggest problems with social media is that it exposes us to so many “neighbors” that we’ve stopped paying attention to the ones right by us. We’re too busy creating online circles that we don’t pay attention to the real ones around us. Let’s skip the online and do more face to face.
In the end, it’s okay to say no to technology. You aren’t obligated to use it just because everybody else is. It’s okay to have boundaries and it’s okay for your life to look different than others. In fact, as a Christian, we’re called to live life differently. We’re called to be light. There are plus sides to technology but there is also darkness. Let’s make sure our usage brings light to those dark places.