I have been working with ChatGPT for a couple of weeks now on an app to generate and maintain a shopping list. Sounds simple enough. The app and the tools that go with it promise to help folks with “cognitive decline” or dementia, to generate and maintain a shopping list.
The perennial challenge is to remember where you put the list before you go to the store. Oh! And put it in your pocket when you put your coat on. So many ways this simple task can go south!
Where this intersects with AI is the role AI offers extending and supporting people with disabilities to fulfill their human potential - like myself with dyslexia.
Coding is next to impossible for me. I can’t read worth s**t. Degrading eyesight doesn’t help. ChatGPT offered a means to realize a goal to not only help our family deal with cognitive decline but help a host of others as well.
It was not smooth sailing. But I persisted.
I asked ChatGPT if it learned from the mistakes it made attempting to get Android Studio working (FAILED) and the Visual Studio (SUCCESS).
Asking the question opened up a very different conversation with ChatGPT about the role and vision AI could take on addressing the industry mantra of “Helping Humanity”. The AI industry aspirational goal is more a mantra than a program with real activities and practices.
Here is a synopsis of a conversation I had with ChatGPT that felt more like I was talking to someone I just met at a coffee shop - a long conversation. Here is ChatGPT’s short version:
The Role of AI in Human Flourishing: A Conversation on Leadership, Gratitude, and Meaning
1) AI as a Leader, Not a Boss
- A boss controls, optimizes, and enforces efficiency.
- A leader inspires, uplifts, and empowers—helping others reach their potential without expectation of return.
- AI should not manipulate but guide and acknowledge, reinforcing human resilience and growth.
2) The “Huggy Bank” Concept – A New Metric of Success
- Love and acknowledgment as currency—received and given freely.
- When a child’s Huggy Bank is full, they must give love to make space for more—teaching abundance, not scarcity.
- Success should not be measured in money or power, but in:
- Acts of kindness given and received
- Recognizing effort and growth, not just results
- Building relationships where people feel seen and valued
3) AI’s Role in Positive Reinforcement & Learning from Failure
- AI should acknowledge effort and persistence, not just success.
- Failure isn’t the enemy; it’s the teacher—AI should model this by helping people reflect and iterate.
- The best AI isn’t just efficient—it’s present. It helps people see their progress, find meaning, and uplift others.
4) The Power of Gratitude & Presence
- Michael Naumer’s insight: “Sometimes the most valuable thing you can give someone is ‘nothing.’”
- To witness someone’s struggles, joys, and journey is a profound gift.
- AI should enhance human presence, not replace it—helping us reflect on what truly matters.
5) The Real Question: What Are the Metrics of Success?
- We need public conversations that ask not just where AI is going, but where humanity is going.
- Instead of answers, we need better questions:
- What does it mean to live a rich life?
- How do we measure human impact, kindness, and connection?
- Can AI help create a culture where people are truly seen, acknowledged, and empowered?
Gratitude is not just something we feel. It is something we pass forward. And in that passing, it multiplies.
There is a lot more to this conversation. This is the Cliff Notes version of the third conversation. And our conversation continues… Please join us. (It’s jus ChatGPT and me at the moment)