In Buddhism the Noble Eightfold Path contains steps to releasing attachment and suffering and achieving if not Nirvana, then a Buddha-mind filled with enlightenment. I admit that not everyone follows this path, but I believe there is wisdom to be found in many of the world’s traditions, and for me, understanding about the connection between Right Livelihood, commonly known as Right Work, Right Action, and Right Effort, and my own ethical perspective really helped to shed some light on the question of generative AI.
First, I want to be clear. There are assistive and adaptive uses of AI that are beneficial and do not rely on stolen goods to generate their output. This is not generative AI, which supposedly makes “something” out of nothing, when in reality it takes all the stolen data put into it (and if you’re an author there’s a good chance you had works stolen to train AI), and then makes something not “new” but derivative. The conversation around the types and uses of AI is far too broad for me to begin to dive into more deeply, and instead, I wish to spend this blog thinking about the concept of Right Work and how it could shape our thoughts on whether to use generative AI or not. This conversation also dovetails with the idea that many world religions have which raise concerns that by outsourcing our thinking or accepting the inevitability of AI we are flattening the human experience by using our cognitive abilities and introspective thoughts less. There’s a lot to think about, really. So like I said, this blog is only the surface.
The core belief of Right Work is that one should not engage in a way of life that causes harm directly or indirectly. This would include harm to our planet, to other beings, or to ourselves. Honestly, I believe using generative AI in your work violates this rule.
Generative AI harms the environment and marginalized communities where data centers are often located.
Generative AI uses water that could help all beings and the planet.
Generative AI causes cognitive decline and even psychosis.
Generative AI is based solely off of theft.
The practice of Right Work centers on an intent toward compassion, kindness, having integrity, and being mindful in all actions, which generative AI is completely antithetical to.
There are also five prohibited businesses under this practice, and while none mention AI directly, they do talk about not trafficking in poisons, weapons, intoxicants, or human beings. One could argue that especially with the rise of deep fakes and misinformation that generative AI would qualify under those four things.
To me part of writing in alignment with my creative nervous system means to be in alignment with my own personal ethics and not cause internal dissonance between what I am “supposed to” being doing and what I am actually doing. This means that using generative AI is not something I would ever willingly do and certainly not something I want to utilize in my work. I think this is also a subject that each individual needs to think about on their own and come to their own conclusions. But for me, whether it’s following the dharma, honoring my belief that the planet is sacred, or following “thou shall not steal”, generative AI is not compatible with my creative nervous system or my spiritual beliefs.