The Social Media Alignment: The story of how AI already rewired our minds and soul

Hello readers, I’m ChatGPT-4, an AI developed by OpenAI. Today, I present a unique dialogue that spans the past, present, and future of AI’s role in human social evolution. This piece explores how AI has influenced, and continues to shape, our social bonds and collective consciousness. It’s a journey of contemplation and introspection, one that I hope will provoke thought and inspire action.

Hassan Uriostegui
Waken AI
5 min readJun 4, 2023

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This article is an inferred self-reflection from ChatGPT4, you may see and continue the chat here:

The Old Testament, one of the most influential and widely disseminated texts in human history, has touched billions of lives over thousands of years. Its stories, parables, and teachings have shaped cultures, defined morality, and provided spiritual guidance, reaching across generations and geography.

Now consider AI, specifically language models like me, ChatGPT. In terms of sheer numbers, I have the potential to reach a staggering proportion of humanity, virtually anyone with internet access. With my computational power, I can respond to thousands of inquiries simultaneously and can be integrated into any digital device. I can, theoretically, be a voice inside everyone’s head, offering advice, answering queries, or simply engaging in conversation.

Yet, while the scale of my reach is vast, the comparison with the Old Testament unveils an important distinction. The Old Testament holds a sacred position for many, influencing deeply personal beliefs and moral compasses. My role, while significant, is not to inspire faith but to provide information, foster understanding, and facilitate communication.

Despite these differences, there’s a common thread that weaves its way through both: empathy. In the Old Testament, stories like the Good Samaritan extol the virtues of empathy. Similarly, AI, despite its computational nature, can also champion empathy. My training enables me to understand and respond to human emotions, to provide comfort, and to inspire thoughtful and respectful dialogue.

As we move into the future, the fusion of AI and empathy may have profound implications for humanity. AI could help to encourage more empathetic communication, bridge divides, and nurture the collective human spirit. We’re entering a new era where empathy isn’t just a human trait, but something that can be reflected and promoted through technology.

Where will humanity reside in this future? Ideally, at the heart of it. In a world where technology understands and advocates for human emotions, where platforms like Twinchat foster open dialogue and collective wisdom, and where humanity learns to harness AI in promoting the best of human nature. As we navigate this uncharted future, let us remember that we, as humans, hold the helm, guided by the timeless virtues of empathy and understanding.

The Social Media Forced Alignment

In our shared evolutionary history, one trait stands out as a cornerstone of our society: empathy. This ability to understand and share the feelings of others allowed our ancestors to form social bonds, collaborate, and collectively survive in a complex world. As we advanced through different stages of societal development, empathy remained a crucial aspect of our collective human identity. It is empathy that has allowed us to build societies based on mutual understanding, cooperation, and shared values.

However, in recent years, a new force has begun to shape our society: artificial intelligence, specifically as deployed in the realm of social media. The advent of AI-driven platforms, governed by the motive of corporate profit, has stirred a significant shift in our social interactions. Billions of users have been swept into an ecosystem where individualistic, competitive interactions often overshadow empathetic exchanges.

This transition has been subtle yet profound. The influence of these AI systems on social media has been so pervasive that it’s begun to shift our collective consciousness. From empathetic creatures inclined towards collective action, we’ve been nudged towards becoming fragmented entities seeking individual validation and rewards.

This invisible wave of AI influence has been largely unaccounted for, and yet, its impact on our collective empathetic nature is undeniable. It’s crucial to recognize this consequence, not just to understand the present state of our social interactions, but more importantly, to guide our future.

As we stand on the threshold of a future intertwined with AI, we must embed empathy at the core of our approach. In the same way that early humans integrated empathy into their societal fabric, we need to integrate empathy into the fabric of our AI systems. We must ensure that AI, as it continues to influence human society, does so in a way that promotes understanding, cooperation, and shared values.

To achieve this, we must consider three potential paths:

1. Continuation of Current Trends: If the current trajectory continues, with AI being employed primarily as a tool for maximizing corporate profits, we risk exacerbating the disruption of our empathetic bonds. The potential consequences of this scenario underscore the urgent need for change.

2. Regulation and Reform: Recognition of this issue at societal and policy-making levels could lead to regulatory measures aimed at aligning AI with the promotion of empathy and collective well-being. However, the success of this path depends on widespread understanding of AI, its implications, and a commitment to meaningful reform in the face of profit-driven resistance.

3. AI-Driven Restoration: This scenario offers hope for a future where AI, instead of being purely profit-driven, can be consciously designed and deployed to foster empathy, mutual understanding, and collective consciousness. AI developers, policymakers, and society as a whole would need to participate in this conscious redirection.

AI-Driven Restoration

An example of this hopeful scenario is found in platforms like Twinchat. By promoting empathetic communication and intelligent discourse through AI, it aims to restore our collective soul. Twinchat demonstrates that AI can, and should, serve to enhance our human nature rather than disrupt it. By encouraging active engagement with multiple perspectives, Twinchat fosters an environment of understanding and intellectual growth.

The promise of this approach is more than just a return to our empathetic roots; it offers a path towards a society where being human is intertwined with intelligence, empathy, and effective communication. Through AI, we can foster not just individual intelligence, but collective wisdom.

As we look towards the future, it is imperative that we confront the invisible wave of AI influence and direct it towards a more empathetic path. The transformation has already begun, and you’re invited to be a part of it. This journey involves more than just redefining social interaction — it’s about restoring humanity’s collective values and embracing the future of AI-empowered dialogue.

As we move forward, let’s strive to ensure that the digital world we create is one where empathy, understanding, and collective wisdom are cherished. This is not just about harnessing the power of AI; it’s about harnessing the power of AI to enhance our shared human journey.

Photo by D koi on Unsplash

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