I was surprised when I interacted with ChatGPT this morning. It made me cry.
Why? The previous post was about how much to care about your work. I spent some time with ChatGPT and I gave it my situation and was honest with it. It asked me some very human and valid questions that I have been asked before by humans.
It really surprised me how thoughtful the questions were. As I spent about an hour going back and forth with questions, statements and examples it was compassionate and wise and I know that hard to attribute to a machine but it was. Or at least the people who programmed the heuristics on this aspect.
It used questionnaires tailored to exactly what I was saying, and if I didn’t know better I would think there was a human monitoring it and giving it examples and things to say.
As I interacted and we went from the general to the specific, I was surprised at how effective it was. Now I have read research that shows that AI is not ready to be a therapist yet. I agree with that. However if you have seen a therapist or are relatively healthy then it can offer you a valuable point of view.
Am I worried that MS or other companies are going to know things about me? Not at all. I am not perfect, and by being vulnerable we show we are human. Being vulnerable takes courage, and I have plenty of courage. I have often in my life been vulnerable and that has allowed others to feel vulnerable and safe with me. I would rather know sincere vulnerable people, than arrogant and non-vulnerable ones.
Its ok if you think I am nuts. I think we all are nuts. Isn’t it nuts to support a system that denies the deepest and most valuable part of who we are? Our ability to love and be connected to each other authentically? I see life working in every way to prevent that. I don’t think we will ever get to the end of our life and understand the value of connection until we no longer have it. It will be a sad day for those people. I won’t make this mistake.
I’m connected by being vulnerable and appreciated for my strengths by those who love me. Do whatever you need to do to maintain that connection with others, even if it might seem silly to talk to ChatGPT or a therapist.