You can’t rationalise your way out of feelings. That is to say, you can’t help how you feel, whether that feeling is good or bad doesn’t matter. It’s a dance, and no matter how you try to grapple with it, emotions will always be what they are meant to be. It’s what makes us human; the ability to feel.

When I think about AI and the advancements in conversational technologies with large language models, the ability for them to reason and think logically is both incredible and terrifying. These LLM’s have been trained on what is essentially the entirety of the internet, all digitised human knowledge, opinion and fact, good or bad, and in turn are then able to use all that knowledge in conversation in ways you couldn’t even begin to imagine. It can write essays, letters, complete complex data analysis, diagnose medical conditions, optimise work and agriculture and offer solutions to the biggest problems of our age.

And yet, as with anything, even if your intention is for it to be used for good, there are those who will use it for bad; to manipulate and harm others, to exert control, to spread disinformation and fear, to suck the last living breath out of our natural world in the pursuit of unimaginable wealth. There are people who exist today who have hundreds of billions of dollars, and yet there are people starving, homeless, and suffering as a result of greed, corruption and war; the race to accumulate vast sums of money a machine that destroys everything in its path.

It’s easy to think that computers will never be able to feel, and physically that may be true (at least for now), but if our own emotions and behaviours are taught and learnt, then what’s to say that being able to feel emotions or think as deeply as we do is a uniquely human experience? The film Bicentennial Man starring Robin Williams asks this exact question, exploring the complex and evolving dynamic between human and machine. It feels more important now than ever that we learn from mistakes of the past to ensure that our history, our home and our voices are protected for future generations; that stories of love, hope, joy and kindness prevail.

Despite any fear I have about the future and what these advancements mean, I can’t sit back and watch it happen. It’s why people get left behind. The “Digital Divide” has left generations of people being shut out of society because of their inability or unwillingness to adopt new technologies, but the older I get the more I sympathise with them. The world has and continues to change rapidly, and even I’m finding it hard to keep up. There are those that think it’s all about control, but this becomes a much bigger question about freedom, how you define it, and the structure of society as a whole. We know it’s not fit for purpose, that capitalism and the relentless pursuit for more is a failed experiment, but trying to agree on what succeeds it feels like an impossible task.

Activism alone is not enough. We must recognised the power of our shared humanity; that caring for each other is noble, and that despite any differences we are all connected. It’s bigger than us, and the sooner we understand, the sooner we can build a future for everyone, no matter who they are, or where they live; one that’s sustainable, equitable and peaceful. The challenges that we face in the fight for equal rights, access to healthcare, clean water, food security, against inequality & injustice and climate change are all connected. We must tackle them all if we are to have any chance of succeeding.

This doesn’t mean that you have to be loud or attend protests, shout or be visible. This is an important part of the work, but it’s not the only one, and there are small quiet ways that you can influence change that are equally important. I’ve spoken before about letters, and how powerful they can be, and writing even a single one can change the course of history. We all have a voice and a responsibility to use it, and writing letters to those who have power and influence is one way to make it heard. It may be ignored, but when we come together as a collective the more voices that say the same thing, the harder that becomes.

It’s why choosing to continue down the path of hatred and intolerance for no reason beyond “because they’re different” will be our undoing. We’re all human, we all share a home. Borders, cultures, religion, freedom, beauty, language, art, music, history, family, gender, love. Different, but all equally beautiful forms of expression that connect us beyond them.

I recognise that there are historical injustices, and that the scars from these may never heal, but we have to move forward, to talk openly about them to ensure they are not repeated. Ignoring them continues to cause unimaginable harm to the most vulnerable communities all over the world; the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine being the most shameful act of injustice in the modern age. Prior to the invasion, the United Nations had described Gaza as the worlds largest open air prison, and as if hundreds of thousands of dead wasn’t enough, now millions of people are now homeless and starving in a toxic wasteland in one of the most inhospitable regions on earth.

The scale of destruction and devastation cannot be overstated. There is almost nothing left. Any voices speaking out and reporting on the ground silenced, and the systemic erasure of the Palestinian people and their history now all but complete. It’s hard to even begin to imagine the scale of loss. It makes my heart hurt.

This is why we must speak up. Why we must remain connected, focused and hopeful that we can build something better. None of these things are unsolvable, and with the access to the amount of knowledge we do, it feels almost ignorant to believe otherwise. Nothing is permanent.

Change is inevitable.

Only one question remains; what kind of change do you want to see?

If only for those around you, that is enough.