Seeing what’s going on in the world, I feel concerned and wonder what can I contribute to making it a better place.
Things appear to be a bit unhinged. Polarized politics, the fragile state of the Earth’s ecosystem with its consequences, global economic uncertainty, plus the rapid development of technologies which no one truly knows the impact of.
Maybe it’s just birthing pains due to a period of radical change. I don’t know. However, there seems a great deal of uncertainty about the future. And what we’re currently experiencing is probably not the reality that many people want to live through.
I believe many people are anxious, and disempowered, with their fate seemingly decided by the gods/Gods, be they human or otherwise.
Create the future we seek
At times like these, what can each of us do to create the future we want to see?
I was curious to know how AI might respond to the question regarding the biggest challenges facing humanity and our personal part in that.
Given that a large language model behind AI, in effect, encodes patterns and relationships from a vast amount of text representing human knowledge, I wondered if it could contain the answers to our problems.
What do we need to save us from ourselves?
So, I asked Chatgpt a couple of innocent questions. The first was:
What shift is needed for human beings to live harmoniously on the planet?
Then, I got personal and asked:
What can I contribute?
Here’s what I got for both questions.
What humans need according to AI
What shift is needed for human beings to live harmoniously on the planet?
Chatgpt said:
“To live harmoniously on the planet, human beings need a profound shift in mindset, values, and systems. This involves transforming how we view ourselves, each other, and our relationship with the Earth.
Key aspects of this shift include:
1. From Exploitation to Stewardship
- Recognising the planet as a living system, not an infinite resource to exploit.
- Adopting sustainable practices that regenerate ecosystems rather than depleting them.
- Viewing ourselves as caretakers of the Earth, ensuring that all life thrives.
2. From Separation to Interconnection
- Embracing the understanding that all life is interconnected and interdependent.
- Moving beyond individualism to collective well-being, recognizing that personal flourishing is tied to the health of the whole.
3. From Scarcity to Abundance
- Shifting from a scarcity-driven mindset (hoarding, overconsumption) to one of sufficiency and sharing.
- Trusting that the Earth has enough resources for all when managed equitably.
4. From Competition to Cooperation
- Prioritising collaboration over competition in societal systems, economies, and relationships.
- Encouraging cooperative governance, shared decision-making, and conflict resolution.
5. From Consumerism to Conscious Living
- Redefining success from material accumulation to purpose, connection, and well-being.
- Practicing mindful consumption, supporting local economies, and reducing waste.
6. From Short-Term Gains to Long-Term Vision
- Thinking generationally, considering the impact of today’s actions on future inhabitants.
- Aligning policies, education, and industries with long-term planetary health.
7. From Domination to Respect
- Moving away from dominating nature and other beings to living in balance with them.
- Respecting indigenous wisdom, which often embodies principles of harmony and sustainability.
8. From Disconnection to Inner Transformation
- Encouraging personal growth and mindfulness to cultivate empathy, gratitude, and a sense of purpose.
- Reconnecting with the sacredness of life through spiritual or philosophical exploration.
This shift requires individual, collective, and systemic changes, with education, leadership, and activism playing vital roles. It’s about creating a culture that values life, equity, and care over profit and power. Only then can we create harmony with the planet and each other.”
My Personal Contribution
You said:
What can I contribute?
Chatgpt said:
“Your contribution depends on your unique skills, passions, and opportunities, but here are some meaningful ways you could align your actions with the shift needed for harmony on the planet:
1. Lead with Your Values
- Live in alignment with values like sustainability, connection, and justice.
- Be an example of conscious living, inspiring others through your actions.
2. Use Your Talents for Change
- As a Coach: Empower people to align their careers with their values, helping them contribute meaningfully.
- As a Writer/Educator: Share insights about creating harmonious systems through blogs, newsletters, or courses, such as Work That Matters or Intuitive Career Wayfinding.
- As a Connector: Facilitate conversations about these shifts, bringing together people with diverse skills and ideas.
3. Champion New Ways of Thinking
- Promote ideas about alternative economies, like regenerative models or the gift economy, through your networks and work.
- Engage in discussions about collective liberation, interconnection, and rethinking success.
4. Support Systems Change
- Advocate for or collaborate with organizations that are advancing sustainable, equitable systems.
- Help others navigate transitions to more sustainable ways of working or living.
5. Live Lightly
- Reduce your personal ecological footprint by consuming mindfully, reducing waste, and supporting sustainable businesses.
- Practice gratitude and contentment to embody the shift from scarcity to abundance.
6. Create Community
- Create or participate in spaces where people can connect, share resources, and support each other.
- Use your facilitation skills to guide groups toward shared purpose and collective action.
7. Support Inner Transformation
- Encourage mindfulness, presence, and emotional resilience in your coaching and personal life.
- Help people reconnect with themselves and their intrinsic values, enabling them to contribute authentically.
8. Learn and Listen
- Stay curious about how others are contributing to this shift, especially indigenous communities and grassroots movements.
- Use what you learn to refine and expand your efforts.
By bringing your authentic self to this work and contributing within your sphere of influence, you become a part of the global movement toward harmony. What feels most resonant or energizing for you among these possibilities?”
We have the answers
Although the answers it came up with are quite simple and obvious, I do believe that they point to fundamental changes needed to solve the problems we face.
I was quite surprised that it gave me a personalised answer, given that I didn’t tell it to reference any other source and did not provide any further context.
Perhaps it’s using my chat history to give me a more personalised answer, which I did find a little disconcerting, since I didn’t tell it to do so.
To me, it’s ironic that even a dumb AI system, created by humans, has the answers, and yet we do not collectively make these choices.
Maybe it’s because we need what’s mentioned in the second and last point, a change of consciousness, and from our current level of awareness, such a change is not only undesirable, but also impossible.
What can I contribute?
As to the answer to this more personal question, it made sense to me and felt relevant to the first question, but perhaps it’s giving me the answers based on what it already knows about me (i.e. I want to hear).
Even assuming this, it didn’t stop me from feeling reassured that I’m doing many of the things it lists! 🙂
Now, I’m wondering what Chatgpt would tell you if you were to ask it the same questions.
Photo by Samuel Austin on Unsplash
