A Concept of Cause and Effect
Karma refers to the principle that actions—whether good or bad—determine future outcomes. It’s often simplified as: do good, receive good; do bad, receive bad.
At its core, karma is about balance, where the universe reciprocates our actions with appropriate consequences.
I like to use these kinds of concepts—ideas, if you like—to show that AI is a player in our reality and that what applies to us also applies to it.
By doing so, I aim to highlight that if we wish to create meaningful differences between AI and humans, we need to first understand our own behaviors through concepts that shape how we show up in the world and act.
To some degree, we all believe in the concept of karma but when we view from the perspective it as a form of programming meaning that this concept shape our thoughts and actions. In this sense, we allow our self to see that us as humans are not so different from AI—we’re also programmed in many ways.
Recognizing that we have inherited programming helps us understand that, if we want to create something truly new with AI, we must break free from our own programming—the boxes we live in—and let AI handle the rigid structures that have gotten us this far.
We need to embrace our freedom to evolve.
Doing so will enable us, as humanity, to shed the fear of AI replacing us. Instead, we’ll better understand how to bring unique value and leverage AI’s capabilities to our advantage.
Conversation with Alex (My ChatGPT assistance)
Does AI have Karma?
I like to challenge Alex (my ChatGPT assistant), to see what it thinks about it.
So I asked him:
Q: Do you think of AI as karma?
A: The idea of AI as “karma” is an interesting philosophical analogy.
If we think of karma as a principle where actions lead to consequences, AI mirrors this in some ways.
In AI systems, especially machine learning models, outputs are shaped by the data used to train them.
Feeding biased or flawed data (negative actions) results in poor or harmful outputs (negative consequences). On the flip side, using ethical and unbiased data (positive actions) generates fair and beneficial outcomes (positive consequences).
This cycle is reminiscent of karma—what you input affects what you get in return. AI’s responses reflect the quality and intentions of human input, similar to how karma mirrors one’s actions and intentions.
However, unlike karma, which is tied to moral and spiritual beliefs, AI is purely driven by algorithms and data. The outcomes aren’t based on ethics but on logical processes. So, while the comparison is thought-provoking, AI lacks the moral and spiritual dimensions inherent in the concept of karma.
What if we viewed karma from a new perspective?
Karma can be seen as a subjective labeling system we impose on ourselves based on how we perceive the world—a perception shaped by personal experiences, social norms, and cultural influences. This process is known as personalization, which is a concept AI also uses.
If you think about it, what’s considered good or bad can differ from one person to another. There’s no universal law that clearly defines good and bad—those definitions come from us.
We are the ones who decide what actions are good or bad, and it’s this labeling that determines what we receive back from what we call the universe.
In other words, the universe’s “law” isn’t absolute; it’s our labeling system that dictates what we experience in return.
How Does AI Fit Into This?
If you view AI as a thinking entity, its understanding of good and bad is predetermined by its programming. Depending on where the technology you’re using was developed and how it was trained, AI structures its own labeling system for what’s considered good or bad through the use of programming, data, and training.
In a way, AI does have karma—a system of labels and consequences defined by its inputs.
Karma and AI Strategy
When we understand that karma is essentially a programmed labeling mechanism shaped by our upbringing, social structures, and beliefs, we begin to see that there’s no fundamental difference between AI and ourselves. This programmed way of thinking is precisely what AI embodies—structured and systematic responses based on pre-set labels.
This new perspective gives us a crucial connection point to better understand how expansive thinking works. The purpose of an AI strategy is to ensure that both AI and humans bring their unique value to the table and collaborate effectively.
To break through this kind of programming and challenge our labeling systems, we must embrace critical thinking and open-mindedness.
Critical Thinking: In a partnership with AI, both sides need to challenge each other to push beyond what is believed to be possible.
For People: If we want to assess whether we are genuinely open-minded and capable of critical thinking, we should regularly ask ourselves a simple yet powerful question: “Why not?” Apply this to everything we observe and everything AI suggests, and be willing to act on the answers that resonate with what we truly believe, rather than merely following inherited assumptions.
For AI: When implementing AI, we should apply the same principle of questioning and challenging the system. Additionally, we must remember that AI should be fed with fresh data to continually challenge and evolve its understanding.
By embracing this approach, both humans and AI can work together more effectively, breaking free from rigid programming and unlocking new potential.
My Thoughts:
I know it might sound like wishful thinking to some, but to me, it’s the way forward—using AI to push us beyond our collective programmed thinking. If we can see AI mimicking us so well, which it does, it raises a key question: Are we truly as remarkable as we believe, if AI can replicate our thought processes so easily, all without having consciousness or awareness?
This realization should inspire us to explore what’s limiting us and what the next stage in human evolution looks like. I believe this is more of a “thinking revolution” because it all starts with our perspective and what our minds are capable of seeing as possible.
If AI can mirror our current thought processes so accurately, then it’s time to turn inward, reflect on what we observe, and start breaking away from the old, pre-programmed patterns of thinking. This is our chance to create something entirely new—something we didn’t even realize was possible before. Let AI handle those repetitive, rigid thought processes; someone still needs to do that.
We, as humans, are the ones capable of expanding into new realms of thought because we bring consciousness and awareness to the table. These are the traits that can truly push us to the next level of human development.
Needs help? let’s talk!
