Automation

I read something today, something that was beautifully written and seemed to use key words in just the right places so that it seemed right, but it also felt a bit ‘off’.

I initially interpreted the off feeling as a trigger, an invitation to explore some wound, some confusion, something within me.

So I read it again.

In a matter of seconds, I journeyed deep into my understandings and then rose back into the present moment feeling nothing new had happened, but I was still awestruck by the beauty of what I’d read.

I looked up to see who had written it, so I could maybe experience more of this beauty and also see if there was a resonance.

Then I saw it.

The comment just below, written by the original poster. It said “this was AI generated”.

Immediately my heart broke. Somewhere deep inside I felt I’d been duped. I felt offended. I felt discouraged. I felt meaningless. All of this at once and instantly.

How could I have believed there was meaning here in this machine’s sewing together of hollow words? How could we have gotten here, where people are working more and more and more at routine jobs while robots get to create the art that was once ours? What is the meaning of my personal expression if it can be mimicked and duplicated by a nameless and faceless and soulless digital echo chamber? Why does this hurt so bad?

Again, all of this in a matter of seconds.

There was a lot to unpack there and I’m not sure that I’ve finished that unpacking just yet, but I am sure of one thing.

I am sure that we are the masters of our own perception.

The meaning that things carry is the meaning that we give it. And because of that, truth can be found and shared through any medium.

But also, the subtleties of feeling are there for a reason and we would all do well to tune into them as much as we can. I’m not saying we run when something feels a bit off. Because sometimes that little off feeling isn’t about the observed but the observer. Read that again.

But sometimes that little feeling can be the sail that sets us straight again when something pushes us off course.

I am still pondering and exploring the questions that this two minute reading brought up, and perhaps there will be more to wean from it. But for now I just wanted to share my experience and encourage other artists to continue doing what you do, because ‘your’ meaning is ‘the’ meaning – and if there’s one conviction that I still hold on this topic, it’s that the world needs more of that.

©️Cristen Writes