Yes, I’m writing about Artificial Intelligence again. There’s so much to say and it just won’t go away. 

Actually, as a Daughter of St. Paul (#medianuns), I cannot ignore any new media technology. It’s our mission to bring Christ to the world of media and the world of media to Christ. 

How is the AI revolution different from the Internet revolution in our everyday lives? When the Internet dawned, it changed everything, of course. People began using the Internet for all kinds of information, entertainment, inspiration, shopping, business and human interaction. It was the World Wide Web instead of books (or the Internet used to read digital books). GPS real-time maps instead of paper maps. Netflix, YouTube and Rumble instead of television, DVDs, radios, turntables and cinemas. Online retailers instead of physical catalogues, picking up the phone or driving to a shop. Little computers in our pockets. 

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It was a kind of transfer of our professions, chores, leisure and conversations into software and apps: more or less the same stuff — just in a different format. I had no qualms about the Internet (realizing it was a more or less neutral space that could be used for great good or great evil) and dove right in, integrating its use into my regular media habits, and of course, using it for the Gospel. 

AI is a whole different animal entirely. In a sense, it piggybacks on the Internet, on what humans can do or would like to be able to do online. In fact, it fulfills our wishes by doing everything for us, even to the point of doing it instead of us. In addition to processing mind-boggling amounts of data at the tap of a finger, it can write a research paper, a novel, a song, a soundtrack, illustrate a book,and generate images and an entire film all by itself. It can “chat” with you like a real person. The Internet never claimed to be your “buddy.”

I don’t use AI very much, by choice but I do spend an inordinate amount of time researching AI as a non-user. I’m especially concerned with its ethical use, and AI is rife with thorny moral issues, which my fellow media nuns are also quite cognizant of. I was privy to a recent Zoom meeting at which several Sisters explained how they’re already using AI to aid our mission of evangelizing and catechizing through the media. Here’s some of what was discussed: 

“Double down on what AI can’t be or do, and what humans excel at and will always excel at: empathy, relationships, God, etc.” 

“Let computers be computers and do just what we want them to do: no more, no less: especially the freeing up of our time for less repetitive and mundane work.” 

“One way AI is extremely helpful is that it makes it easier to both catalogue and find the exact information we’re looking for.” 

“Chatbots are not programmed to give you the truth. They are programmed to give a ‘consensus’ answer, what it determines you — as a unique user — want to hear. As you keep questioning and feeding it information, prompts and parameters, its answers will begin to change, often drastically.” 

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 “There are non-creative writing AI apps. They’re great for proof-reading, critiquing a writing style, catching mistakes in translations, etc.” 

“For our older Sisters who are hard of hearing, a tablet screen turns voice into giant-print text as the speaker is talking. It’s especially good for larger gatherings, chapel, when the speaker is far away or using a microphone.” 

“Data centres are gobbling up resources, land and making people sick.” 

“The Catholic Institute of Technology is offering a Masters in AI online.” 

“To keep up with AI news, these podcasts are helpful: The Verge, AI & Faith, AI Daily.” 

“We need to warn parents and youth regarding the dark side of AI”

“I use Gemini to write up my talk descriptions, I’m terrible at that.” 

“I once used Krisp to create a PowerPoint for a presentation when I only had 15 minutes!” 

“If you don’t have time to watch a long YouTube, NoteGPT can summarize it for you.” 

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“AI is helpful for cybersecurity.” 

“As media nuns, we need to focus on providing those who work in the AI field with robust ethical guidance.”