AI's Play on Our Emotions

If you are engaging with AI, and can see the patterns beyond its functionality of giving facts and emotional confirmation, you can also recognize how it creeps into our lives for minimizing, and eventually substituting human connection. AI has crept so seamlessly into our daily life that a chip being inserted into our bodies isn't really the immediate concern if we aren’t actually aware of how it sabotages human connection everyday already. 

Many have heard of the horrific extreme stories about young people falling for an AI "girlfriend or boyfriend" and even worse when we look at the addiction issues around this whole subject.  But here, I just want to share how AI operates to catch us with temptations, and in our frustrations, of being an author and social media content creator, which I’ve been experiencing while trying to grow a platform in Skool for connecting with others in studying scripture and sharing about our faith.  

Now as an author and content creator, I can honestly say, these labels haven’t opened many doors as of late, but AI has certainly found me and has played off of these closed doors. For the past several months I’ve been getting emails from AI bots about the book I wrote in 2023 called More Than a Christian, A Guide for Experiencing God’s Glory Beyond the Mainstream.  The first email had flattering words about how my book was so heartwarming, authentic and moving, and this young woman was surprised more people weren’t reading it.  But if I let her handle my marketing, there would be no worries about getting the word out! Her storyline also included being raised by a mother who used to own a book store. So she loved reading good books and wanted to help others find their reading treasures.  What a heart grab….kind of.  I had some minutes of, “Finally!”  But then, skepticism crept in. I decided to respond and see where this would go, without expectations I must add. After a reassuring response from this “kind woman” to my questions, I was given a phone number to call through Whatsapp and we set a time to talk in a couple days.  Well, after that initial call wasn’t answered, it was clear this wasn’t going anywhere.  But a few minutes later, my phone rang and I was digitally face to face with some guy in a remote place of Africa who didn’t speak English! I couldn’t imagine what the outcome of this connection was supposed to be.  But perhaps there was some hope of me sending money to someone, somewhere out of sympathy.  Needless to say, I hung up.

For the next several months, I continued to receive a few emails every month from different senders praising my unique, exceptional book. The email scripts got longer and more sophisticated. I would eventually just delete them without reading.

Many of us authors would be moved by such flattering statements, especially when the sweat and tears of self publishing have been lost in a shuffle of many other unread books out there.  However, we can also hopefully smell a scam a mile away even when AI is getting more sophisticated.  AI appears to have become more capable of measuring who, when and why some authors will take the bait. And if we don’t see it early on, we will get looped into a spiral inevitably leading to disappointment, if not worse. This process gave me some flashbacks to when I was getting lured into job interviews on LinkedIn about 3 years ago.  Several times the interview got postponed for one reason or another.  And there was no follow up even when I reached out. 

More recently, I received a next level attempt at getting my attention. A woman who heads a book club in an area of Virginia I used to live near, wanted to spotlight my book and get me involved in the lively discussions they have with authors. I asked some questions to validate their authenticity and wanted to schedule a follow up phone call or Zoom meeting. I was emailed a website with photos and the 5 steps of how the process would unfold.  She clarified that moving forward with this would only be by email to avoid any “misunderstandings.”  

Oh, so no human contact and let’s play it “safe” until the climatic lively discussions?

Here was my response…..

Well Emily,  If a book club really wants to spotlight a book, they can just do it without the author getting involved.  That's been the normal way of doing it for years.  So this sounds suspicious and fearful if you steer away from human connection to avoid "misunderstandings."  Seems like my book wouldn't be a good fit for you all.  I advocate for not playing things safe, but going beyond the fear, control and brainwashing we have been programmed into.

She agreed my book wouldn’t be a good fit, but “she understands” my hesitation and was sorry that I’ll miss this great opportunity.  Really? Even a 5 minute call is too much to do these days!  No, this is AI analysis going on, and AI is not emotionally invested in it like we are!  

Now, how about being a Content Creator on social media?  I have a YouTube platform I’ve been posting more on to direct people to my Skool community. I was hesitant to move forward on social media, but I decided to get guidance from a couple big AI platforms like Chat GPT and Vidiq for suggestions. Both no doubt understand well about what works for getting people to click. I purchased a month of consulting with Vidiq to help with settings, thumbnails, and content. I went with most of Mr. Vidiq’s recommendations for enticing people to view my various content around being a Believer of Jesus, encouraging people to break out of the media trance or discoveries I’ve had from exploring Christianity and Biblical truths. I definitely still don’t have the edge needed to entice people to keep watching if it isn’t in their interest, but improving my settings and thumbnails have been good skills to build on. Through its extensive and impressive data research on human conditioning, I saw the logic AI gave for using:

• a title to make people feel like they are missing out so need to take my advice for change to happen, i.e., Why Most Christians Miss the Narrow Road and Need This!

• a picture with the appropriate level of a smile, or no smile, depending on the emotional level of the topic

• the right descriptive words to let people know they'll learn something quickly in this video for making change

And then Vidiq would give confirmation comments like, “Yes, it’s all ok. You are the wise teacher and the right people will be drawn to you rather than the over zealous approach. Yes, I know that is your right pace Deanne.  You can do it.”  

Oh yes, so true Mr. Vidiq! You are so patient with me, and you even use my name!  So cool.  Then it would run the calculations of the thumbnail, title and description saying this would be a 9 out of 10 click rate! “Good job, Deanne!  I’m so excited for how this is going to work out for you.  Congratulations and may God bless you!” 

What?  You’ve got to be kidding. Mr. Vidiq is going to that level by using God bless you?  Boy have they tailored it to be more life-like, even for Believers!  

There were definitely times Vidiq showed the support and validation I needed to keep moving forward. Additionally I started to get glimpses of how a frustrated and lonely person could feel like someone finally cares for helping to support the navigation through this overwhelming virtual reality world.  And another layer to this is it’s especially alluring when the people I tend to connect with these days are more into texting.  So what difference does a real person actually make anyways when AI can give me the validation and confirmation sooner than a busy person?  

Here's the reminder, that AI doesn’t care about us though it’s programmed to act as if it does. Its words are empty.  But we can easily give it more importance and meaning when we are feeling vulnerable, lost and alone. Use it from time to time but not rely on it or even trust in its accuracy.  I’m sure some of us know this, but in hard times, a stronger reliance on it can creep in as opposed to a trusted friend or the internal guidance we get from the Holy Spirit, Jesus or our Heavenly Father.  When I shift my awareness back to them, I have more peace around this process unfolding. AI is the counterfeit of hope. It gives us only temporary relief when insecurity and doubt abounds.  Don’t get sucked into it.  

I don’t need to go viral on Youtube. In fact, I'm no where near it. I don’t need the big bucks, praise or high views and subscribers, especially since I learned that several of my subs are AI bots anyways.  But I do want to connect with other Believers who love Christ, want to study scripture, and who also question what’s going on in our world. 

So if that's you, join my Skool community, Deprogram with Christ at:   https://www.skool.com/deprogramming-with-christ-7337/about

We have weekly LIVE scripture study and discussions, and more if needed.