In a world that’s changing faster than we can process, a strange and non-human new “song” is rising ; one sung not by poets, artists or prophets, but by machines.
It sounds like the beginning of a sci-fi movie, and in fact, it was. Terminator gave us Skynet: a cold, calculating superintelligence that became humanity’s worst nightmare. And while today’s AI doesn’t march with metal skeletons (yet), the unease remains. Many still hear the word “AI” and picture a machine uprising, not a writing, tech or organizational assistant.
They call them LLMs, Large Language Models. Tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Bard, Claude, and others. These systems are trained on billions of words to write like humans, speak like us, and even sound wise.
People are using them for everything now- from writing songs to wedding vows, sermon outlines to school essays. Maybe you’ve used one yourself. I have. My knowledge is still limited, but I’m not avoiding AI. Maybe you’ve avoided them entirely. Maybe you haven’t decided if learning how to use LLMs is for you.Either way, since our world is rapidly integrating with these systems, I believe it is a good thing to understand what they are, and more importantly, how to stay grounded in a world where the use of AI is remaking our world.
What Is an LLM?
In simple terms, an LLM is a machine trained to predict language. It doesn’t understand what it says, but it knows what “usually comes next.”
It’s like a parrot who’s read every book ever written. It can quote Scripture, echo poetry, or imitate your favorite author- or even imitate you – but it doesn’t mean any of it.
You can ask it for:
- A bedtime story
- A job application
- A haiku in the voice of Shakespeare
- A prayer to soothe a hurting friend
And it will respond … in seconds.
But remember: It has no soul. No heart. No memory or experience of loss or love. And without the life that only God can give, it never, ever will.
Why Should You Care About LLMs and AI?
Because this isn’t just about technology. It’s about truth, beauty, and meaning, the things you were made for.
You’re not just a content consumer. You’re a creator, a mother, father, brother, sister, friend, HUMAN- a witness to something far deeper than algorithms. YOU ARE REAL.
And this moment in history is asking you:
Will you let the machine shape your voice? Or will you stay rooted in the true, good, beautiful, and holy? In real things that are a world away from artificial intelligence or artificial anything.
How to Stay Human in the Age of the Machine
1. Learn How It Works, Without Worshiping It
You don’t need to be a coder. But understanding that an LLM is just a glorified text predictor helps demystify the spell.
It’s not magic. It’s math. And once you see that, you can start using it wisely, if you want to, as a servant, not a master. Or you might choose to pass, but at least you will be making an informed decision, based on knowledge instead of fear.
2. Use It as a Tool, Not a Crutch
Let it help you brainstorm or polish. Let it assist, never replace, your voice.
If you’re an artist or entrepreneur, it can speed up the boring parts — but never outsource your soul.
3. Discern Between Echo and Truth
Let it help you brainstorm or polish stuff. Let it assist, but never replace, your voice.
If you’re an artist or entrepreneur, it can speed up the boring parts… but never let it outsource your soul.
An LLM can imitate wisdom. But it can also mix truth with falsehood, charm with flattery, darkness with light.
Keep your guard up. Compare its answers to Scripture. Check your sources. Don’t assume it’s right just because it’s articulate.
4. Teach Others the Difference
Your children, your friends, your readers, and many people are getting swept up in AI and LLMs and don’t know how to tell real from synthetic.
If you’ve taken the time to understand, you can help anchor others so they don’t get swept away. You can be the lighthouse instead of an echo chamber.
5. Ground Yourself in Silence and Sacrament
This one’s spiritual. LLMs talk endlessly, providing a constant stream of information and entertainment, while algorithms crave your attention, pulling you deeper into a digital abyss.
But your soul needs silence, a chance to breathe and connect with God. It needs moments of prayer, whether in a quiet space at home, in nature, or at Mass. In these spaces, you encounter real beauty and nourishment that is far deeper than what can be found in the fleeting allure of virtual reality. Take time to unplug from the noise and distractions, letting yourself be formed by Heaven’s grace, wisdom, and peace, rather than merely fed by the superficial offerings of the world. Prioritize these moments, and you’ll find that your soul is enriched and your perspective transformed, creating a deeper connection to the divine and the world around you.
The Bottom Line
AI can help you find the right words for a sonnet. But it cannot mourn. It cannot ache with loss or tremble with love. It cannot kneel in prayer, nor glorify God…not from the heart, because it has none. It cannot be sanctified, cannot receive grace, cannot return affection with a soul behind it.
Yes, it can echo your voice. It can predict your rhythm, your phrasing, even your sorrow.But it cannot mean what you mean. Because it was never wounded. Never forgiven. Never saved.
And that, dear reader, makes all the difference.
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