A Story about a Girl

I read a story about a girl who passed by someone on the street who didn't have a home.

She paused, looked at him, then asked her chatbot whether to give the individual some money.

What do you think the chatbot said?

More importantly, do you think the girl followed the chatbots advice?

Because if she did, this moment was more than just offloading a decision, it was outsourcing the opportunity to develop self trust. Our ability to tune into our own inner voice is not built in big decisions, it's built in very small decisions that compound over time. And if moments like this get redirected to an external voice...well...over time that may erode the self confidence needed to navigate the world.

Giving money to someone you meet on the street is a moral, philosophical, some would even say a religious decision. It's not black and white, there is no right or wrong answer, and it's deeply personal.

Even more so, it's contextual: 
▪️Where was the girl located?
▪️Was it day or night time? 
▪️Was she alone or with others?
▪️Was it a public space or dark alley?
▪️If she wanted to help, was money the only option?

When chatbots start advising on moral and ethical decisions, is there a point when the user becomes internally bankrupt of exercising discernment and wisdom? 

I don't know what the chatbot advised. Perhaps it guided the girl to reflect on her own value system and moral code. Perhaps it quoted ancient text to help light her way. Perhaps it said that twenty bucks would be an appropriate amount.

Whichever way it went, it is precisely this type of small, seemingly innocuous story that will make our relationship with ourselves potentially unrecognizable ten years from now.