From Screens to Sunrises

Authentic experiences in the age of Artificial Intelligence

Even as their parents look on, Kogi children, no older than three, are led into the darkness at the base of a glacier. A dimly lit stone hut will be their home and school for the next decade and a half. When they turn 18, they ascend the Andes and witness an event for the first time – a sunrise. In that defining moment, everything learned in abstraction is affirmed in breathtaking glory. The priest steps back and declares, ‘You see? It’s exactly as I’ve described. It is that beautiful.’ He pauses. ‘It is now yours to protect.’

While I am no Kogi priestess I too spent many years in darkness – the darkness of screening rooms, watching hours of nature shows and documentaries. Just as the Kogi child learnt about the world outside, I too accumulated theoretical knowledge. But in this accumulating I wonder, where is the power of diverse personal experiences? Over the last few years some transformative experiences in nature have convinced me that in the age of information and AI, true wealth lies not only in knowledge but also in enriching first-hand experiences.?

I spent two decades in the television industry curating, acquiring, and commissioning content for Discovery, TLC, and BBC Earth. I took pride in bringing the best natural history shows to the Indian audience. Despite spending hours screening nature shows and being a well-travelled nature enthusiast, I remained unaware of the missing piece in my immersion – experience. My Kogi-sunrise moment arrived after years of watching countless nature shows. I finally witnessed wildlife in its natural habitat, marking the beginning of a new journey.?

Over the next few years, nature unveiled its magic during innumerable forest trails, hikes and dives. I saw my first tiger on foot, swam with whale sharks and mantas, observed the intricate dance of cuttlefish during mating, and swam across a mirror-surfaced lake to observe the congregation of hundreds of egrets. Whether in the vibrant marvel of myristica swamps in the Western Ghats or beneath the lofty prehistoric trees of the Andaman Islands, each encounter left me with a deep sense of reverence. Without a screen and a pause button I was no longer an armchair viewer. It was unimaginable how the same natural world felt so different to me off-screen. In the embrace of nature I often found myself struck by wonder; an indescribable feeling that can only be lived, not taught. Nature became my mentor, teaching me crucial life lessons. It wasn't just about witnessing the external beauty but feeling a profound sense of interconnectedness, a lesson only nature could teach in its silent, captivating language

Grasping the magnitude of nature and recognising our insignificance in it, a sense of surrender naturally unfolds. This sense of surrender sparks genuine appreciation and gratitude for nature, long before the thought of protecting it.?

As I spent more time in the natural world my very relationship with nature changed. I started understanding its transience. The flower that graced this morning won't see tomorrow, the water that splashed my feet has disappeared downstream, and would I ever hear the same whistling bird that woke me up? Even the clouds I attempt to paint will shift before my brush touches the canvas. I realised the only thing in my control was to value and appreciate everything within the constraints of limited time. I discovered the art of finding contentment in the connection felt in those fleeting moments.

Life is dotted with moments of wonder when the world reveals its magic in the ordinary, from sunlight filtering through leaves to the rhythmic patter of raindrops. In a world that often glorifies speed and efficiency, deliberately slowing down becomes a revolutionary act. Yet, it is in these precise moments that we open ourselves to emotions we may be unaware of. In the quest for knowledge, isn't it vital to pause and savour these instances of enchantment that add depth and colour to our journey?

As these experiences continued to shape my outlook, I asked myself: are we on the brink of experiential poverty? Confined to cubicles (and our freedom limited by ‘privilege’ leaves), we often only have a brief window for experiences that may reshape our lives. Even these are often filtered through the lens of our phones, tailored for Instagram, depriving us of curiosity, wonder, and surrender. We have become adept at scrolling through apps, devouring books, and films for information that we later regurgitate in various forms. Without infusing our vast bank of information with colourful and personal encounters, we risk resembling a search engine. Are we, in this pursuit of projection, losing the wonderment of life?

Building a reservoir of experiences goes beyond merely adding diverse activities to our lives; it entails mastering the art of being fully present. This impacts creativity at a deep level. Though easier said than done, I am continuously learning to slow down and participate in every moment. Immersing myself, I make an effort to engage all my five senses in any activity I do, to create a rich and complete experience.

As creators of art, photography, film, dance, music, sculpture and beyond, I believe we essentially engage in a reinterpretation or reimagining of what the Divine Creator has already created. The difference lies in what and how we infuse from our own subjective encounters into our creative processes. We also run the risk of shaping a world grounded in recycled knowledge unless we usher in new emotions, thoughts and perspectives derived from our personal experiences.?

Today, the importance of wonder and immersive experiences has never been more significant. Without venturing beyond our comfort zones and drawing from experiences, anything we create might be replicable by an AI platform. Is it the quest for knowledge, or is it the pursuit of human experiences that will herald a new era of crafting the extraordinary,? pushing the limits of human existence?

As we navigate our roles as television programmers, content creators or storytellers around a campfire, let us consider the profound impact of genuine experiences. The invitation is to curate a life rich in authentic moments and also immerse ourselves fully in them. Then, we no longer just collect information, but weave threads of inspiration that breathe new life into the narratives we share with the world. Let our creations be more than echoes of borrowed knowledge; let them resonate with the harmonies of our unique encounters. In a world that's going to be enveloped in Artificial Intelligence, maybe our edge lies in the unmatched power of this Human Experience.