“You want a horse, but only a good one. You want a farm, only a good one. You want a house, only a good one. You want a wife, only a good one. You want a shirt, only a good one. Boots, only good. It’s only your soul you accept bad.” —Augustine, sermon on Psalm 118

'AI is not inherently poised to usurp any roles. It can do no such thing.'

In light of the launch (and subsequent defrocking) of AI chatbot ‘Fr Justin’, Nathan Mladin explores how we can effectively harness AI while preserving human relationships.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2024/0…

Today I learned a really helpful idea that originated in human factors research: 'learned carelessness,' the tendency for human beings to uncritically accept guidance from machines and computers.

Via this good review of Ethan Mollick's recent work on AI: ailogblog.substack.com/p/ethan-mollic…

I continue to think the greatest risk of A(S|G)I is not that it will actually be achieved, but the dream of it being achieved.

Magic isn't real, but the dream of magic is real and leads to real addiction, real exploitation, and violation of the dignity of persons and creation.

This was a great conversation.

One of the really under-appreciated things about Strong Towns is that their prescription for urban design is not about a set of preferences (walkability or whatever, inevitably tinged by class and fashion) but something much wonkier and more important: municipal economics.

Andy Crouch Continuing the list:

knowledge >> information
wisdom >> intelligence
passion >> interest
purpose >> goal
creativity >> skill
experience >> education
character >> reputation

Europe has long been my biggest question mark about the smartphones-and-mental-health correlation. I don't think it defeats the argument but it certainly complicates it.