Call Your Mum… or Ask ChatGPT?

A few days ago I was thinking about getting some new indoor flowers for my new home - flowers that would last longer than the hyacinth I recently bought.

The problem is… I don’t know much about flowers.

My mind immediately turned to my mum.

She has been a keen gardener for most of her life and would have plenty of knowledge to share.

But then a thought appeared.

"I could just ask ChatGPT and get the answer immediately… without having to call my mum. She might not even be available right now."

And in that moment I caught myself.

How easily we can default to asking AI instead of speaking to another human being.

And the truth is, I’ve probably done this more times than I realise.

But then I started reflecting more deeply on the reality we are now living in.

For the first time in human history, we have instant access to a vast lifetime of knowledge on almost any topic - without needing to speak to another person.

And this isn’t just about indoor flowers.

When you need advice at work,
do you ask your manager… or ask ChatGPT?

When you're planning a special meal,
do you call a family member… or ask ChatGPT?

When you're unsure about your tax return,
do you speak to your accountant friend… or ask ChatGPT?

When you're looking for travel inspiration,
do you call your well-travelled friend… or ask ChatGPT?

When you're choosing a movie for the evening,
do you message your movie-obsessed colleague… or ask ChatGPT?

This shift raises an interesting question.

If we now have immediate access to knowledge without needing other people…

what becomes the real reason for reaching out to one another?

And then another thought came to me.

If I had called my mum, the conversation probably wouldn’t have been just about flowers.

It would have started with flowers…

But it would likely have turned into something else.

“How are you?”
“What have you been up to?”
“Have you anything to share with me?”

A few minutes of conversation.
A few moments of connection.

Perhaps something unexpected is happening.

Maybe AI is quietly purifying our motives for human connection?

Perhaps it is exposing how often we previously reached out to people because we needed something from them - information, advice, help.

And now that information is instantly available…
maybe the real question becomes:

Will we still reach out to people simply to ask how they are?

Not because we need something.
But because we care.

Does this resonate with you?