Oct 30, 2024

How do we use the tools of today to bridge emergent phenomena of possibility with very ancient values? One of those ways is through AI, or artificial intelligence. AI can be an "innerscope" - and perhaps even lead us to an "interscope" to cultivate greater connection and compassion. 

During a Closing Celebration call for the recent Global Interfaith Compassion Challenge, we unveiled the Interfaith Bot -- which contains a corpus of 77,000 sacred documents! Here's how one person described it: 

The AI bot. Incredible. It’s inspired me to think about what else is possible with technology at the intersection of this deep inner work. My work and passion is about how we transform education globally. I currently fortunate to working in a space where we’re reaching hundreds of thousands of incredible local leaders in 60+ countries. This call inspired me about the possibility of bringing together AI and the deeper inner work. I’m really energized to see how we could do that in my world, to transform and create more compassionate, conscious education systems. 

Tapan Parikh and Tulika Verma share more (view all clips here.), including examples of questions they asked the bot and the surprising yet beautiful responses they received.

Post today's call, people have been asking various questions of collective interfaith wisdom like ...

• Is there a right way to pray?
• When is it okay to cut family ties?
• How can we resolve wars and find peaceful solutions?
• Recite St. Paul's ode to love
• Who was the founder of the Bahai faith? What are his views on feminine leadership?
• Why is bodhichitta more valuable than a wish-fulfilling jewel?
• Why is it so easy to drop into self-centered-ness?
• What does religion say about alcohol?
• How can I be present in a world that is so busy?  
• What practice can I do that can help me reframe my challenges as opportunities?
• What religions do not claim a diety?
• Are butterflies prominent in any religion?
• What religions promote violence?
• How do different traditions understand reincarnation?
• What are the similarites and differences between Mormons and Buddism?
• What do different faiths say about sin?
• Does God exist? :)
• Is atheism parts of interfaith?
• What is the Jewish text for seeing the human body as a microcosm Of the natural world?
• List verses about slavery in the Bible.
• Suggestions of compassion for a kid was abused in early childhood and has pent up anger.
• How do you stop anxiety from blocking God?
• Can you find the poem that says let yourself be drawn to what you love (It's a Rumi poem and the Bot knew. :))
• Is hard determinism true?
• What is the difference between emptiness and self?
• Please list the verses from Quran about compassion.
• Why doesn't God prevent all suffering, injustice and death?
• Don't waste your pain, use it? How?
• What is the best religion? :) (Response)

We're grateful for many kind words, across various other bots too:

Can’t express how grateful I am that ServiceSpace is creating the compassion Bot. I just tried it and the counsel it provided me was heartwarming and extremely valuable! ServiceSpace accomplishments are beyond any  words to express. Deep Gratitude, Jinet