In the agora of ancient Athens, Socrates walked among the crowds, his face creased in thought. He sometimes paused during debates as if listening to an unseen companion. This was his Daimonion—a guiding voice that accompanied him throughout his life. Socrates’ daemon (noun: an inner or attendant spirit or inspiring force), Daimonion, never dictated his actions but warned him when he was about to err. This inner voice steered him away from politics and towards philosophy and teaching. This influence became part of Socrates’ wisdom, complementing his logical mind. (link) This has shaped Greek philosophy, of course, and therefore serves as the foundation of Western society and thought to the present day. An unseen voice that guides and shapes the thought.
the Personal Guide and Inner Voice Across Cultures and Time
Similar ideas for a personal guiding voice have parallels in many other cultures throughout history. The faeries, djinns, Vidyadharas, and many other such names for intermediate spirits are the bearers of knowledge, bridging the human and the divine, the known and the unknown. They represent our desire to access wisdom beyond our immediate grasp.
Socrates and his Daiminion[/caption]
the Genius of GenAI
Today, we encounter a new kind of guide for genius: Generative AI. The word “genius” stands for an “attendant spirit,” which naturally hints at the superlative ideas having originated on an alternate plane and transmitted to us through a human carrier, the supposed “genius.” Like Socrates’ Daimonion, GenAI systems contain vast information, offering insights across many domains. The potential of GenAI lies not just in its knowledge but in how we interact with it. To benefit from GenAI, we must approach it thoughtfully, as Socrates did in his Daimonion. We should see GenAI as a tool to enhance our intelligence and creativity, not replace human judgment. Learning to ask the right questions, as Socrates did, is key to getting useful responses.
Now that our ears are filled with the sounds of social media, streaming music, 24×7 news cycles, and overwhelming noise, we can no longer hear that “still small voice” that could give us direction. We will need to retreat to the ashram for that. Instead, we must rely on an all-too-electronic guide that hovers on the cloud for guidance and support.
the limits and moral ambiguities of the daemon
But, like Socrates, we must nurture a close symbiotic relationship with this guide. Our genius will depend on how well we integrate GenAI into our thinking process. So long as we are in control of our agency and only rely on AI to help us gather all the facts, explore the options, and logically arrange the ideas. If we lose control, of course, we will be sucked into the hallucinations of a lifeless and soul-less demon, as it seems to be with social media outrage. Understanding our digital guide’s capabilities and limitations is crucial for using it responsibly.
a human-intelligence hybrid superspecies
Throughout history, technology has expanded our abilities. Fire allowed us to access new food sources. Language extends our thinking beyond the individual. Writing preserved knowledge across generations. Machines amplified our physical strength. GenAI can enhance our memory and reasoning in unprecedented ways. It could become an extension of our collective intelligence, processing information at remarkable speeds. We are already more powerful beyond our biological limitations (we are already a hybrid species that is more than just our biology), and this expansion in our capabilities will make us more powerful yet, if we can control the power. All these technologies are good when under our control- fire, language, machines, and writing are all examples of technology that can cause significant damage when uncontrolled. Still, we have learned to master and make them our own.
“we are as Gods” we thought at every turn
Integrating this capability into our lives goes beyond using an advanced system—it will change how we think and solve problems. While we won’t become all-knowing or all-powerful, we could become more capable than we are now. New challenges will arise, but I am sure our ancestors burned down a forest or two before they learned to master fire for cooking.
We carry with us the wisdom of countless generations, from long before Socrates to the present day. Our digital Daimonion amplifies our human potential. With this enhanced capability, we gain the power to tackle enormous challenges—to cure diseases, address climate change, and push the boundaries of scientific discovery. As with any powerful tool, its impact depends on how we use it. The same amplified intelligence that could uplift humanity could also worsen our flaws if misused. We are to listen to our spirit guide’s advice but use our wisdom to make decisions. This is what Socrates did as well.
With GenAI, we have the opportunity to amplify our intelligence, wisdom, compassion, and foresight. This new power will do much good.
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