The During Test (vs Turing Test)

The Present of Presence in the Age of the Algorithm

The During Test (Questions):

1. Am I fully present in a moment, in nature? (My holistic surroundings).
2. Am I fully present in a moment, within myself?
3. Am I fully present in a moment, to be available to someone else?

The During Test (Conclusions):

1. After encountering AI or any new technology, do I feel wonder?
2. After encountering AI or any new technology, do I feel seen?
3. After encountering AI or any new technology, do I feel loved?
4. After encountering AI or any new technology, do I feel peace?
5. After encountering AI or any new technology, do I feel more equipped in empathy for yourself, others and the planet?
6. How would I answer any of these questions if the AI or new technology stopped working or wasn't available to me?

Most of the time I've encountered these questions on lists for "AI Ethics Principles" in the last decade, where words like "Explainability" would be part of #1 above, or "Transparency" would be #2, etc. I honor these words and the amazing people I've seen develop them around the world over the years.

But as of late the myriad articles about LLMs and GenAI and the repetitive media cycle around AI hype saying X new tech is better than humans fills me first and foremost with anxiety.

So the "During Test" is first about mental health. If a new strain of AI or technology is presented to me in a way that doesn't (after examination) lead to peace of some kind (even if it's more of a wonder-oriented awe than full understanding at first), I take this as a signal.

Not necessarily a "bad" signal.

But as a signal of the age in which we live.

The Age of the Algorithm

I use this phrase a lot. It's not intended to disregard the practical and purposeful use of algorithms.

But as a rule algorithms are tools used to calculate or predict. They're active tools that in one sense don't come to fruition until the formula of the algorithm or mathematical calculation is realized.

And these calculations are realized in you.

This speaks to "agency" which I find to be a complex word when it comes to the human brain and things like memory. I've read many times that what is happening in the moment is what we perceive to be happening in the moment as it actually takes a fraction of a second for stimuli to enter certain physiology of our brain and change our consciousness.

That's very Maxtrix-y and I love knowing that fact in terms of my inner geek.

But I also think it means there's an opportunity to practice presence.

Being still is, certainly for me, perhaps the hardest thing I've ever tried to do.

If an algorithm is trained on your data and it's designed to predict or influence what you're going to do, a key opportunity in modernity is to be still.

The book, Rest is Resistance speaks to this beautifully.

And added to this -

Stillness brings serenity.

There is a present in being present.

But it means being still which is really hard, and is likely boring to algorithms.

How to Practice Presence

I "randomly" found the picture I put into the top of this post and wanted to share the words of Gabrielle Warner (and thank you, Gabrielle, if you read this) in her post, Shifting into Presence by Connecting to Nature :

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SHIFTING INTO PRESENCE

It is true, when we are feeling excessively worn or vulnerable, we have less access to being open to these moments and that’s the exact time when we need to consciously create them the most. Even just a breath of fresh air or even 5 can help energize and shift us out of a stress state and back to feeling some sense of presence and power. It is that shift that offers us possibility and hope.

A quote attributed to Victor Frankl encourages:

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. And in that space lies our power to choose. And in our choice lies our growth and freedom.”

During one of the most unprecedented times of our lives, let us remember nature as one of our greatest healing gifts to pause and connect to refresh our patience and stamina for ourselves and each other.

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There is is. The "During Test."

Between stimulus and response.

I look forward to seeing you there.