Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod

Episode 574: How AI and Technology Are Making Us Dumber
Date: February 19, 2025
Host: Hal Elrod

Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking solo episode, Hal Elrod explores the profound ways that artificial intelligence (AI) and modern technology are changing how we think, behave, and connect — both with ourselves and with higher consciousness. Hal blends personal reflections, research, and practical strategies, posing challenging questions:
Is technology making us "dumber"? Are we unknowingly replacing our intuition and spiritual connection with digital answers? How can we reclaim our cognition and spirituality in an AI-driven world?

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Cognitive Impact of Technology

(Segment starts at 07:25)

• Hal openly acknowledges his own reliance on technology—from Google Calendar to ChatGPT—and invites listeners to self-reflect on similar habits.
• He cites "digital dementia," a phenomenon where reliance on devices leads to declines in memory, focus, and deep thinking.

“If you don’t use a muscle, you lose it. The same is true with your brain.” (08:40, Hal Elrod)

• Highlights research from Nicholas Carr’s "The Shallows" and the article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?," emphasizing our brains’ vulnerability to “surface-level content.”
• Quotes and references Cal Newport’s "Deep Work," noting the decline in sustained focus due to constant digital distractions.

“Our ability to do deep work… we are losing the ability if we continue to be reliant on technology to replace our memory, to replace our critical thinking, to replace our ability to focus—those muscles… are going to atrophy.” (11:45, Hal Elrod)

• Personalizes the subject by relating technology’s impact not only to himself but also to his children’s development.

2. Technology and Spiritual Connection

(Segment starts at 15:36)

• Hal asks: Are we replacing our relationship with God, or at least our intuition, with technology’s instant answers?
• Reminisces about past practices: turning inward, praying, reflecting, or engaging with family and friends before the era of Google and AI.
• Warns about the generational risk of children losing touch with intuition and spiritual practices by turning to technology first.

“We’re replacing our connection with higher intelligence with artificial intelligence.” (18:01, Hal Elrod)

• Introduces philosopher Mark Vernon’s argument that spirituality comes from direct human experience—something AI can never truly emulate.

“AI can never replace spiritual intelligence… Spirituality is rooted in direct experience—things like suffering and joy and love and longing and connection. AI is just data. It can’t give us real wisdom.” (19:45, Hal Elrod referencing Mark Vernon)

• Shares personal stories about prayer and answered prayers, underlining the irreplaceable value of spiritual and intuitive practices.

3. Cultivating a Healthy Relationship with Technology

(Segment starts at 23:50)

Hal makes clear he isn’t anti-technology and shares that he has tried semi-off-the-grid living—but proposes that balance and intention are key.

Actionable Steps:

a. Stop Taking Your Phone to the Bathroom

• A humorous but serious challenge: leave your device outside the bathroom for a week.

“You can do anything for a week, even if it’s hard. Start by leaving your phones outside the bathroom… It’s a small step toward breaking the cycle of dependency.” (25:00, Hal Elrod)

b. Spend More Time with God Without Technology

• Replace some device time with moments of prayer, meditation, or sitting in silence—especially in nature.
• Hal shares his practice of a “digital detoxed” Miracle Morning.

c. Track Your Time: Tech vs. Spiritual/Reflective

• Quantify how much time goes to screens versus time spent in nature, prayer, or silent reflection. Hal was “almost embarrassed” by his own imbalance.

d. Use AI to Enhance, Not Replace, Your Thinking

• Cites advice from Jeff Woods ("The AI Driven Leader"): Use AI to get different perspectives or spark ideas, not to simply accept its output as truth.

“Use AI to support your cognitive growth rather than diminishing it.” (28:15, Hal Elrod)

e. The 30-Day ‘Less Tech, More God’ Challenge

• Hal proposes a challenge: intentionally reduce screen time while increasing time in reflection, prayer, meditation, real-world connections, and nature.

“For me, the word God encapsulates all of that… Reduce your technology use. Start by not taking your phone to the bathroom.” (28:55, Hal Elrod)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “How is AI and technology fundamentally changing us? Is it making us dumber? Are we unknowingly allowing it to take over our natural God-given mental abilities?” —Hal (03:10)
• “If you rely on technology too much, we can easily fall into the trap of treating AI as our ultimate source of knowledge… That is dangerous, in my opinion.” —Hal (21:35)
• “I’m not saying we should all throw our phones in the trash and go live off the grid… The fantasy is better than the reality.” —Hal, on extreme digital detox (23:57)
• “You might have the most brilliant thoughts you’ve ever had… while you’re going to the bathroom and your phone’s out in the hallway.” —Hal, light-hearted actionable advice (29:51)
• “The answers you seek aren’t just in technology, they are within you.” —Hal (30:27)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:02 | Introduction, episode theme | | 07:25 | Cognitive decline via tech—digital dementia & deep work loss | | 15:36 | How technology replaces intuition and spiritual connection | | 18:01 | “Replacing higher intelligence with artificial intelligence” | | 19:45 | Spirituality vs. AI, Mark Vernon perspective | | 23:50 | Building a healthy relationship with technology | | 25:00 | Practical tip: No phone in the bathroom | | 27:15 | Track your screen vs. spiritual/reflective time | | 28:15 | Using AI to enhance rather than replace thinking | | 28:55 | The 30-Day Less Tech, More God Challenge | | 29:51 | Encouragement and wrap-up |

Final Takeaways

• Modern technology, while incredibly powerful and useful, poses risks to memory, deep thinking, creativity, and spiritual connection if not used mindfully.
• The solution isn’t rejection, but conscious, intentional use—bolstering practices of silence, prayer, reflection, and real-world connection to maintain cognitive and spiritual health.
• Hal invites listeners to join him in minimizing tech dependency and prioritizing moments of reflection and connection with self (or God/higher self).

Connect with Hal or share your experiences with this challenge via Instagram, social media, or email.
Next episodes will feature expert guests diving ever deeper into the crossroads of technology, cognition, and spirituality.

“The answers you seek aren’t just in technology, they are within you.” (30:27, Hal Elrod)