Historically, when groups of working people seek to better their condition, demanding such things as a fair wage or safer conditions, there is typically resistance and push back.

We鈥檙e seeing this play out once again with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. Other groups, from the Screen Actors Guild to unionized Starbucks employees, have lent their voice in support of writers whose demands include better pay and job security. Writers are also concerned producers will begin using artificial intelligence (AI) for writing screenplays.

Along with the predictable push back from studios, some people (at least in comment sections) have actually taken a pro-AI stance. A typical argument runs along the lines of, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 like this movie/series/season of show; how could AI do any worse?鈥�

I have to wonder, are these AI advocates just being contrarians, or is this truly what they want 鈥� our stories and songs concocted through a programmed response to supplied key words, essentially void of authentic human voice and experience?

I鈥檇 like to think most would prefer we continue to be the authors of our own stories. However, the anti-solidarity/pro-AI perspective appears in-line with a pervasive pattern of self-isolating trends such as staying in to 鈥淣etflix and chill,鈥� using self-checkouts and spending time with the like-minded in internet chat silos. It鈥檚 not a wonder we鈥檙e living amid an 鈥渆pidemic of loneliness.鈥�

In his introduction to the 2023 report, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Hurthy says 鈥淟oneliness is far more than just a bad feeling 鈥� it harms both individual and societal health,鈥� and that if investments aren鈥檛 made to address social connection, 鈥渨e will pay an ever-increasing price in the form of our individual and collective health and well-being. And we will continue to splinter and divide until we can no longer stand as a community or a country.鈥�

The report鈥檚 prescription for individuals includes: seek out opportunities to serve and support others; be responsive, supportive and practice gratitude; make time for civic engagement; seek help during times of struggle; and actively engage with people of different backgrounds and experiences.

Writers know empathy is intrinsic to good storytelling 鈥� it鈥檚 how we connect to their stories and with each other. Empathy precedes sympathy and compassion, all of which are fostered through connection. Without these as a foundation for our decisions and actions, the path Hurthy has warned us about is difficult to avoid.

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