it's time for the rise of authentic soulfulness

The weekend before last, I was at the Mom 2 Summit, a seventeen-year-old conference for women who create content online. I had the honour of interviewing Shannon Watts for a keynote conversation (and man, what an absolute delight she is), but I also managed to attend a couple of panel sessions while I was there. In both sessions, the topic of artificial intelligence came up. Panelists were asked for their tips and tricks for using AI online, and as the panelists answered, I squirmed.

I admit it: I am deeply, deeply skeptical of artificial intelligence. Of course, I’ve heard all the reasoning and stories behind why artificial intelligence will help make life easier and change the world for the better. But frankly, after reading this article and learning about the way AI manipulates our addiction to social media, I had flashbacks to the way humans are depicted in WALL-E, and immediately deleted all social media apps from my phone. I’ve seen The Terminator and I, Robot, I know how this story ends. #SKYNET

But I digress.

My (potentially reasonable) hysteria notwithstanding, there’s another reason I’m so skeptical of artificial intelligence, and it’s from watching the ceramicists work at the community pottery where I’m a member. I’ve mentioned before how disturbed I am by the way artificial intelligence obscures whether a piece of writing or a photograph was created by a human or not. But pottery is different.

I can’t help but think that if we cede power and creativity to computers and machines, we’re not only going to lose our humanity, but we may also lose our soulfulness. Watching these artists sculpt clay (a medium that is said to have memory, for heaven’s sake), in forms that only other imaginations could devise, while leaving behind their fingerprints — their actual, visible fingerprints! — on their pieces’ surfaces, I can’t help but believe that a lot of their individual spirits are imbued in their work.

*I’ve moved on to handles, so these are my very first, crappy mugs. Attaching handles is far more difficult than you might think, or frankly, is reasonable.*

I can’t help but think that when we share things that are imbued with our spirits — writing, art, even crappy mugs — it connects us, on a spiritual level. And that has to be good for both the giver and the receiver.

So while I rage against artificial intelligence, I know the Rise of the Machines is inevitable. But I’d love to see the rise of its opposite — “authentic soulfulness,” maybe? — in equal measure. Because I’m not exaggerating when I say I think our humanity, and our souls, depend on it.

So this week, my wish for us all is that we make something with our hands — art, baked goods, even crappy mugs — and share them with someone. Let’s build a groundswell of authentic soulfulness.