WHILE TECHNOLOGY evolves and offers many opportunities for learning, a Dominican priest advised Thomasians to not simply follow the standards and trends in social media and instead embrace their authentic selves during their stay in the University.
Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P., the director of the UST Facilities and Management Office, said becoming reliant on advanced technology like artificial intelligence (AI) can neglect their creativity and judgment over time.
“As human beings, we are uniquely created by God, not by algorithm… Don’t be afraid to smile, smile, laugh, cry, get angry sometimes, we are all human after all,” Austria said during the Thomasian Welcome Mass on Thursday, Aug. 13.
Austria acknowledged that while AI can be helpful in supplying assistance in daily tasks, its outputs lack conscience, empathy and moral presence that humans can only provide.
“[It] is important to remember that AI is not intelligent the same way humans are. Hence, they are called artificial intelligence. Its capabilities are driven and prompted by human intelligence, it only mirrors what humans have created already,” he said.
The youth’s tendency to follow trends and become blinded to their algorithms, Austria cautioned, could make them ‘performative.’
“That kind of behavior, sadly, is merely performative. We act in ways that are meant to impress others rather than express our own true selves. It creates an illusion meant to establish a reputable identity that does not reflect who we are,” he added.
Austria also noted that the youth is often vulnerable to ‘doomscrolling’ or the constant use of social media due to their urge to seek instant gratification and stimulation from short-form videos.
“Sometimes, this noise defines us. We become confused, despaired, and anxious. We aim to optimize everything to the standards of today’s society. Only to realize that in the end, you lose yourself,” he said.
The priest also cited the importance of spiritual intelligence, saying Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas” also emphasized the need to disarm AI before it dominates humanity.
Austria encouraged Thomasians to stop building false personas and strive for an authentic appreciation of themselves while building strong and lasting relationships at the start of the academic year.
“We need to drop the mask of inauthentic online personas and allow genuine struggles and doubts to be expressed as part of being human. And from this, we can build a culture of trust and emphatic communication with others,” he added.
Austria also reminded the freshmen to not lose themselves while adjusting to the standards and practices of the University.
“You may be encountering a lot of people, but don’t lose yourself in the end. You don’t just adjust to what is trending in the social media or what is trending here in the university, but embrace yourself,” he added.
The University is set to welcome 13,208 freshmen students this year. F
