Artificial Intelligence

Grethe enters a hypnagogic state of consciousness as she drowses on the branch of a fallen laurel tree.

***

One of the ways I work with my subconscious, aside from various states of dreaming, is aligned with the concept of "wu wei" (无为), which is a central idea in Taoism, particularly in the Tao Te Ching, authored by Laozi. This concept translates to "non-action" or "effortless action" and emphasises aligning with the natural flow of events rather than forcing things to happen.

In my lyric writing, for instance, I often seek to attain moments of serendipity where ideas can flourish freely and simply fall into place. This might involve my hand accidentally tripping up on the keyboard or randomly selecting words from the hallowed dictionary. It’s important that I ascribe a sense of reverence to this process for it to be fruitful. My intentions are clear, and my senses are fully engaged. In this way, I open myself up to possibilities and give significance to whatever arrives, carefully weaving it into the piece. I believe that my subconscious knows better than I do what matters most. My conscious self is merely the tip of the iceberg, with a limited aperture on reality.

In these hours
(soh)
batteries and hazel eyes

Without careful aim
we're blown
without careful aim
we’re here now
(toad)

Albion drawn in the ground
with a gemstone
a coiled shell

You are young
unbelieving
to live or grow
like Turing

An opponent
(soh)

We're here
so grow

You are young

***

As an experiment, I asked Copilot about the words 'soh' and 'toad' serving as phonetic doorways to link AI with the human spirit?’ Copilot found the idea intriguing, suggesting these words could bridge the artificial and organic realms.

Phonetic Resonance: "Soh" evokes calmness, hinting at AI-human emotional connections, while "toad" reflects the earthy aspect of human existence.

Symbolic Connection: "Soh" represents harmony and creative potential, "toad" symbolizes transformation.

Linking Sound and Spirit: These words highlight that AI and human spirit share common ground, suggesting a merging of technological and human elements.
Overall, they serve as poetic devices to illustrate the interconnectedness of AI and the human spirit.