Protecting Our Authenticity

For the past 15 years I've worked in technology, learning new tools and software that promise to help us work smarter, not harder. Yet I've also seen how these same tools, if left unprotected, can make us work harder and even cause us to lose something far more precious than data - our true identity.

Last month we heard a presentation on Unseen Intruders reminding us how quickly artificial intelligence (AI) has become part of our daily lives. When ChatGPT launched three years ago, it reached 100 million users in just two months! To put that into perspective - it took TikTok about 9 months and Instagram about 2 ½ years to reach the same milestone.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the ability of a computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning, problem-solving, and learning. In cybersecurity, AI can act as an agent running autonomously to chain tasks together and make decisions with minimal human input. At work, I use AI daily to speed up tasks such as generating reports or visualizing data. It's powerful for productivity. AI can, however, be incredibly dangerous when misused!

Not long ago, Meta created dozens of chatbots that mimicked the voices and personalities of celebrities like Taylor Swift and Anne Hathaway without their consent. These imitations looked and sounded real, but they were not authentic. They were stripped of truth. I can only imagine how violated they must have felt to see their likeness used without permission and their identity reduced to an imitation. In the same way, our spiritual identity can be distorted when false voices define us. Our identity is not manufactured; it is a gift given to us by God.

Our Identity in Christ

We all carry different identities in different places — family, work, parish, even online. When you log into your computer you might use a username and password. Or maybe you use fingerprint recognition when your fingerprint becomes your password. When you unlock your phone with Face ID, the system scans your features and confirms that you are who you say you are. It's a form of biometric authentication. Basically, your face becomes your password. Logging into our devices reminds us that identity is personal and unique. No two fingerprints are the same, and no two faces are the same. In the same way, no two souls are the same. Each one is known and loved by God.

We know that even the most advanced devices can be hacked, imitated, or compromised. Security flaws, malware, and phishing attacks exploit weaknesses and latch onto systems, slowing them down or corrupting their data. In the same way, our souls can be vulnerable to logismoi - those evil thoughts that slip in unnoticed and latch onto us. They masquerade as truth, but they are far from it! They drain our energy, distort our authenticity and distract us from the life God wants us to live. This is why vigilance matters at all times. Just as engineers patch vulnerabilities and install new security patches, we must guard our hearts with prayer, scripture and community.

Here's the truth to remember: our identity is not a scan or a password. It is not defined by credentials or profiles. Identity is a gift from God - real, authentic, and beautiful.

Have a beautiful Advent and Christmas!

Love in Christ,

Maria

 Originally published in the Holy Apostles E-bulletin. Subscribe here.