This morning, I wake up to some news articles that remind me to focus on the Peace of Christ and not the chaos of the world.
– recent bot campaign, shows AI easily accessible.
– National Security agencies should explain how they are using AI.
– cyber attacks in an attempt to sow discord
– AI generated content shows celebrity’s backing candidates is false
All these seem pretty normal in the past few years with the rise of AI and our reliance for online content … it seems that we spend most of our brain power trying to navigate truth, plausible and false.
we have lost the sense of right and wrong and moved to just being more right or less wrong that someone else or status quo.
It was this article that caught that caught my eye because it summed up the thread of conversations and emails and messages that I have been navigating for many years now.
“Scams, conspiracies, and surprising theories, why do we fall victim to them”
After a quick read there were some points
– We have a natural sense to trust people.
– Most online content has been structure to generate income or create an outcome that will move people to act or react.
– People reach for something that makes them feel good about what their life is, and who they are, and what they desire.
The online world is just too easy in so many ways, that we have become accepting and trusting that if it is made public it must be truthful.
In the not to distance past Print, Radio and Television were the main methods of mass communication of ideas and held and still held to a set of standards that someone is accountable to ensure they are fact checked.
Online content from social media and video sharing platforms is not regulated, falls under the notion of the Wild West, or Buyer Beware … reminds me of the signs that we see at some swimming areas.
“The area is unsupervise – Use at own risk”
To combat this … I aim to avoid using what I see or sent by others as a means of decision making … there is just too many ways to manipulate visuals and audio today.
Take some time to watch -The Social Dilemma, it is eye opening and should create caution. https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/
Every hear of Deep fake …. scary stuff.
In addition, this same monetization mindset has crept into the Catholic mainstream as well, where we have “Catholic” influencer generating content for likes and views, selling books and other wares that do not promote the Faith or inspire Peace but confusion and division. They make you feel uneasy, fearful and live as though you are not doing enough or missing out.
Many faithful as read these new best selling authors and not looking to the Church Fathers or Magisterium to validate or confirm the narratives that are spending time reading.
If you are reading or viewing this material without consulting the Bible, catechism or the writings of the Church Fathers, you make be walking a journey of faith beside a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Peace,
DG
The Deacon Guy 