- Endurance with Problems
- Endurance with People
- Endurance with Perspective
Millions of 13-years old’s are interacting with AI on a daily basis and as a result their formative years are being shaped and influenced by the frame-work being presented. They aren’t simply AI for help with homework like, “What’s the capital of France?” They are talking to AI about their problems at school. Areas of life where they are worried. Conversations with a friend that didn’t end as expected. And AI will have an answer for every question or thought presented!
Which raises a question, “How is AI shaping the next generation?” I can imagine at least three areas that are worth watching:
1. Endurance with Problems. This concern isn’t new for Gen Z and Gen Alpha. We already see patterns where young people are struggling to navigate problems. Most parenting books written today are trying to encourage parents to stop solving problems for their children.
When my kids were in middle school in Austin, TX, counselors would describe their ideal school environment as an “island of safety.” I remember asking them, “Island of Safety for Middle Schoolers?” It felt ambitious! I would ask my kids, “Do you feel like your school is an Island of Safety?” They would laugh!
After all, it’s middle school! Our kids still saw kids picking on other kids, making fun of other kids, and they said it was something the students would make fun of when it was referenced.
What if instead of promising children an Island of Safety we told children, “Life is hard!” Sometimes our friends are going to hurt us. Many times, accidentally, but sometimes intentionally. It doesn’t mean we tolerate abuse and cruelty but childhood can be a time to learn how to navigate the difficult parts of life.
And it makes me wonder what happens when the AI chat bots become our new Island of Safety we turn to for comfort and security? What happens when children learn from a young age that discomfort in life means we withdraw and seek safety so that we can find relief?
If that pattern is repeated often enough a person’s world will get smaller, and a person’s confidence will get weaker because the person is learning to avoid discomfort instead of persevere.
2. Endurance with People. Another concern I see creeping into our culture through the use of AI is that we will become fatigued by one another. AI is incredibly easy to engage. The communication level is becoming more human. And, most of all, AI is really good at listening!
AI doesn’t have anywhere else to be in that conversation. There are no distractions competing for its attention. It is able to fully listen, even if our communication is clumsy, disordered, or rambling. AI is with us every step of the way.
Then, imagine those moments when you talk to a friend and they are looking at their phone, interrupting, struggling to understand, laughing at moments that weren’t meant to be funny. Who wants to go through that experience? Or, who wants to pick up the phone and talk to their parents about something difficult?
Some of my best relationships in life have been built out of clumsy communication. There are memories of people sticking with me when I couldn’t explain myself fully. And, moments when people have left a conversation and misunderstood what I was trying to communicate. Yes, it can be fatiguing, but it is also a beautiful part of how we build relationships with one another.
That makes me wonder, “When is the younger generation going to develop those communication muscles?” Where will they learn to become curious when they don’t understand? What about persevering through a challenging conversation? Or, will they conclude these relationships aren’t worth the effort?
3. Endurance with Perspective. Lastly, this might be obvious in light of the first two, but AI is extraordinarily certain in a conversation. If a question is asked, “Why I am frustrated with my friend?” AI will give us an answer within seconds! Will it be accurate? Maybe? But, overall, AI gives the impression that the listener now has a complete view about a particular situation.
But every answer in life comes from a specific framework and AI isn’t always forthright about the framework shaping its responses. Therefore, when it comes to conversations around morality, politics, economics, theology, or sociology, the chat bot will provide a concise and confident response.
Therefore, it’s possible a whole generation is being raised with a reference tool of one specific view on life without even realizing there are other frameworks or perspectives to consider. The danger isn’t getting a wrong answer. It’s becoming certain too quickly!
Endurance with perspective is the ability to remain curious long enough to seriously consider other viewpoints. But my concern is that AI will lead us to a place where we become less open-minded, because the “facts” have been laid out in seconds.
Conclusion
For me, as a pastor walking around the Domain in Austin, TX, my concern isn’t AI is going to take our jobs or make us lazy. My concern is that we are being indoctrinated in ways we can’t even see. And, a young person is going to have this experience in the most formative years of their life.
But, maybe like any generation of young people, maybe they will rebel? Maybe in 10-15 years we will see a generation swinging in the opposite direction? Maybe they will be looking and longing for an Island of Chaos, because the world feels too ordered around them?