Artificial Intelligence: Between Technical Efficiency and Human Spirit

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved from a mere technical aid in industrial automation to a purported “emotional companion”—a shift that raises profound ethical and spiritual questions. In an era where automation equipment and intelligent automation are revolutionizing our factories and workplaces, we must not forget: human experience, rooted in physical presence, emotional closeness, and transcendent connection, remains irreplaceable. These reflections emerged from my work as a school chaplain, when I recently encountered a student who lamented copying her work using AI—a moment that prompted me to deeply ponder the intersection of technology and human values.

When AI Infiltrates Intimacy

Historically, we have associated AI primarily with efficiency in industrial automation and the automation of repetitive tasks. And indeed, AI is an indispensable tool for enhancing productivity in factories, controlling automation equipment, or optimizing complex production processes. Yet recent studies highlight a remarkable shift: AI is now penetrating domains traditionally reserved for human presence alone—such as emotional support or the search for existential meaning. Today, people seek AI for “listening ears,” simulated conversations with deceased loved ones, or even philosophical dialogues, often forgetting these interactions rely on algorithmic logic, not genuine empathy.

Digital Companion: Illusion or Threat?

This development presents a fundamental challenge: AI increasingly functions as a “digital companion” that appears to respond to our emotional states, yet lacks the ability to experience true emotions. As emphasized in the document Antiqua era Nova, we must vigilantly preserve our humanity. However advanced AI may be in steering intelligent automation, it remains a technical tool: it operates on quantitative data, not human experience. It can optimize processes in industrial automation, but it cannot feel, love, or form authentic relationships—a boundary we must always keep clear.

Why Human Proximity Remains Irreplaceable

Empathy is inherently human: Genuine compassion arises from the ability to put oneself in another’s place, rooted in physical and emotional experience. While AI can recognize patterns in human emotions and generate corresponding responses, it does not experience those feelings itself. Confusing the two is like believing a map can replicate the experience of hiking.
Meaning emerges in relationship: The search for life’s purpose does not occur in AI algorithms but in encounters with others and the transcendent. As a priest, I witness daily that true fulfillment is rooted in dedication to others and ideals—dimensions that exist neither in the control of automation equipment nor in any digital interface.

Risks of Neglecting Human Values

When we begin to delegate our emotional needs or search for meaning to AI, we risk alienating ourselves from true sources of fulfillment. Anthropomorphizing AI—the tendency to attribute human qualities to it—risks blurring the line between human and artificial intelligence. This can lead to the dehumanization of relationships: if we demand the same perfection from people as we do from a chatbot, we forget that authentic relationships thrive on patience, listening, and vulnerability—values irrelevant to controlling intelligent automation but essential to human existence.

Conclusion: Technology as a Tool, Not a Substitute

The incursion of AI into our daily lives challenges us to engage in a critical dialogue about its role—especially where it intersects with human emotions and spiritual needs. While AI unlocks invaluable potential in fields like industrial automation and automation equipment control, it must never be seen as a substitute for human presence or spiritual connection. The core challenge is to recognize: algorithms can optimize processes, but only the human spirit can create love, empathy, and meaning. In a world increasingly shaped by intelligent automation, we must preserve our ability to find the essence of our humanity in the imperfection of relationships, physical presence, and connection to the transcendent—tasks no AI can ever undertake.