Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor at the University of California, Berkeley, explores the effects of awe on physical and mental health. He defines awe as "the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world." With the remarkable advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years, the question arises whether human awe remains valuable in this technological age.
Awe in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Last month, OpenAI announced that it had solved one of the seven Millennium Prize Problems, a challenge posed by the Clay Mathematics Institute in 2000. Additionally, Google DeepMind introduced the new AlphaGenome Atlas, which predicts the biological impacts of 9 billion possible single-nucleotide changes in the human genome. These achievements are truly awe-inspiring and reflect ongoing advancements in AI models.
Read more: The Return of Neagley to Season Two on Prime Video
However, while we pay attention to the awe of machines, we must not overlook the irreplaceable value of human awe. In one of his studies, which included 2,600 awe stories from 26 countries, Keltner found interesting results. He discovered that "what most surprises people around the world?" and his answer was: courage, kindness, strength, or overcoming others' difficulties.
The Beauty of Morality and Its Effects
Keltner termed this finding "moral beauty" and defined it as "witnessing the kindness, courage, strength, or selflessness of others." In a study he conducted, 95 percent of the moral beauty that inspired awe came from actions people took for the benefit of others. He introduced moral beauty as the first of his "eight wonders of life," which are everyday sources of awe.
Keltner also points to the effects of awe on the body and mind. He references research showing that awe calms brain areas related to selfishness, self-criticism, and anxiety. This feeling can have a collective and widespread impact. In his book, "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonders and How It Can Transform Your Life," he writes: "In moments of awe, we shift from feeling solely responsible for our own fate and struggling against others to feeling part of a community.
Keltner also notes that awe does not require money or burning fossil fuels. He simply states: "Because we have a fundamental need for awe in our brains and bodies, finding awe is easy if we just take a moment to pause and wonder." All of us, regardless of our backgrounds, can find our meaningful path to awe.
Read more: Johnny Depp Plays Scrooge in the New Film 'Ebenezer' · The Livelihood Rights Award was Given to Women's Rights Activists and an AI Researcher
