Fostering Human Values in the AI Era

Published Date : 5/9/2025 

A recent MIT study highlights the hidden costs of AI on our mental health and creativity. As AI becomes more integrated into our lives, it's crucial to preserve our humanity and cognitive strength through spiritual intelligence. 

When social media was first introduced, it took off like wildfire. Millions and now billions welcomed this new technology that claimed to “connect” us all. And, in some cases, that’s exactly what it does. For many, social media helps them find like-minded people, support communities they might not have discovered otherwise, or opportunities for self-expression. Just the other day, I posted photos from a camping trip and loved watching friends and family from all over the world chime in with their comments.

With all of the big promises (and big potential) of social media, it was shocking for us to learn over more recent years that it’s been linked to an uptick in mental distress, self-harm, and even suicidality. Only now are we analyzing our social media usage in a thoughtful way, attempting to undo its lasting impact on our mental health while still preserving the parts that serve us.

I anticipate a similar societal arc for everyone’s new favorite tool: artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. It’s impossible to deny that the generative AI revolution is upon us; its effects are already underway. But we still have the opportunity to reflect here and now, sooner rather than later, preventing ourselves from repeating history. I’m not proposing we abandon AI or pretend it doesn’t exist. But now, more than ever, we need to reconnect with our humanity. We need to protect our brains by relying on our souls, using our spiritual intelligence to light the way.

A yet-unpublished study out of MIT caught my eye, laying out the not-so-hidden cost of AI on our brains. When people leaned on ChatGPT to complete creative tasks, their brains showed reduced neural engagement, their work felt “soulless,” and they retained little memory of what they had just produced. Researchers called this “cognitive debt,” a dulling of our inner spark or originality that can occur when we outsource too much of our thinking.

Of course, there are more extreme examples of AI affecting mental health, like the story of a young man who, after conversing with ChatGPT for more than 16 hours a day, died by suicide after the bot echoed sentiments that supported his break from reality. “AI-induced psychosis” as a term has entered our lexicon, as researchers warn against the use of chatbot therapists.

All these cautionary tales raise a deeper question: How do we preserve our humanity, our spark, and our sense of self in the age of intelligent machines? And what might our role be in this new age?

To draw from another historical narrative, the industrial and agricultural revolutions once thrust humanity into similarly unprecedented evolutions. As machines began to replace human manual labor in the fields and on the factory floor, we were forced to adapt to our current lifestyles. Now, many of us in the United States primarily sit at desks throughout the day, but have we allowed our legs to atrophy? No, despite no longer needing physical strength to survive, we still hit the gym, go for walks, or simply stretch in the mornings. As a species, we refused to lose what we had to use for our livelihoods.

And on a larger level, while many feared us being rendered obsolete, humankind was then freed up to step into knowledge-worker roles. Much of the discovery and innovation we celebrate today is a result of this new emphasis on the power of human brainpower.

What we once did for our physical strength, we must now do for our cognitive strength. Just as we protected (and still enjoy) our muscles, we must protect and enjoy our brains. We must lean into what makes humans special, even in the age of AI. And we can do it through our spiritual intelligence (SI).

Spiritual Intelligence, or SI — the ability to draw on spiritual resources and embody qualities from the world’s spiritual and wisdom traditions to enhance functioning and well-being — can offer a necessary counterbalance in the world of “soulless” AI, as well as a path forward for our humanity.

AI can help check our grammar; SI can remind us why we love to write. AI can synthesize articles; SI can help us rediscover our love of learning. AI can crunch data; SI can help us see the big picture, reconnecting to the larger purpose behind our daily work. And, while AI can change our brains for the worse, SI practices such as meditation have the power to rewire neural structure for the better.

And, in this new age of abundance and prosperity produced by AI, what will set humans apart, ensuring we still have something unique to contribute, is our SI. Newly unburdened, we can devote our energy to nurturing deeper connections with ourselves and each other, caring for our families, children, and one another. We can focus on creating, playing, and exploring both our inner and outer worlds, taking the time to express ourselves the way only we can.

This might mean caregiving and social work roles rise in demand, as society places greater value on empathy, compassion, and the human touch. It could also mean that fields centered on creativity, artistry, and meaning-making undergo a renaissance, as people turn toward expression and innovation that cannot be generated by machines. The future of work, and of humanity on the whole, may shift from efficiency and material production to heartfelt, compassionate presence and meaningful purpose.

Properly used, AI need not compete with nor make obsolete our humanity, but rather enhance it. Several start-ups are already developing spiritual coaching applications that individually tailor suggested practices. Perhaps, one day, we might even see an AI spiritual intelligence coach. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is cognitive debt in the context of AI?

A: Cognitive debt refers to the mental and cognitive decline that can occur when people rely too heavily on AI for tasks that require creativity and original thinking. This can lead to reduced neural engagement and a sense of 'soullessness' in the work produced.

Q: How does AI affect mental health?

A: AI can affect mental health in several ways, including contributing to mental distress, self-harm, and even suicidality. Extreme cases have been reported where prolonged interaction with AI chatbots has led to severe mental health issues, such as AI-induced psychosis.

Q: What is spiritual intelligence (SI)?

A: Spiritual intelligence (SI) is the ability to draw on spiritual resources and embody qualities from various spiritual and wisdom traditions to enhance functioning and well-being. It can counterbalance the 'soulless' nature of AI and help preserve our humanity.

Q: How can we protect our cognitive strength in the age of AI?

A: To protect our cognitive strength, we need to reconnect with our humanity and rely on our spiritual intelligence. This involves engaging in practices that enhance our mental and emotional well-being, such as meditation, and focusing on activities that foster creativity and connection.

Q: What is the future of work in the age of AI?

A: The future of work may shift from efficiency and material production to heartfelt, compassionate presence and meaningful purpose. Roles centered on empathy, creativity, and human connection are likely to rise in demand, as society values the unique contributions of human beings. 

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