Summary of the Core Content
This article uses classic Zhuangzi fables (Bo Le training horses and Zi Gong recommending a water-lifting pole) to reflect on the anxiety about efficiency and the dilemmas of human nature in the AI era: While AI appears to liberate us, it may, like Bo Le training horses, ensnare us in the name of “efficiency” and “growth,” pulling us away from our true selves. Zhuangzi was not against tools themselves but rather the “crafty intentions” (the desire to manipulate or be controlled by them). The article concludes by suggesting that AI could potentially break the cycle of constant competition and allow us to return to a more natural and authentic way of life.
Detailed Interpretation
1. Zhuangzi says “Bo Le is guilty”; are we being “trained” in the AI era?
In the “Horse Hooves” chapter, Zhuangzi criticizes Bo Le for using harsh methods (scalding the horses’ fur, carving their hooves, and starving them) to train swift horses, resulting in many of them dying. This parallels the current AI era, where we are expected to “improve efficiency,” “learn continuously,” and “stay competitive.” Just as Bo Le forced the horses to run faster, we are pushed by the mantra of “becoming better versions of ourselves” without considering our true desires. For example, while AI makes writing articles quicker, bosses may require us to produce three pieces a day instead of giving us more time to rest; while it simplifies creating PPTs, endless revisions become the norm.
2. Zhuangzi opposes not tools but “crafty intentions”—will AI make us more opportunistic?
Zhuanggi tells the story of Zi Gong recommending a water-lifting pole to an old man, who refused, saying that using such a tool would lead to reliance on mechanical solutions and a loss of genuine thought. This means that while AI can streamline tasks, it may also cause us to rely on shortcuts and forget how to think independently. For instance, using AI for writing or creating reports might make us less inclined to think critically.
3. The trap of efficiency: Does AI make us busier but less effective?
The article points out that efficiency tools often have a paradoxical effect: they are designed to free us but end up assigning us more tasks. While smartphones and communication apps make life easier, we feel compelled to be always available; while AI simplifies work, we are pressured to produce more content. This is not a flaw of the technology itself but a consequence of increased demands. Employers expect more from us, and we fear being left behind, leading to greater anxiety.
4. Does AI help us find our true selves or make us forget what we want?
Zhuangzi’s concept of “pure simplicity” refers to following our natural desires and doing what we truly enjoy. The article suggests asking ourselves: If we were financially free, what would we do? We might not be stuck making PPTs or analyzing ads. However, AI fills our days with tasks, leaving us no time to ponder these questions. For example, if AI can quickly create art, we might stop trying to paint on our own; if it can summarize books for us, we might avoid reading the originals.
5. The possibility of a future without competition: Could AI eliminate the need for constant competition?
The article imagines a world where AI takes over most tasks, freeing us from the pressure to compete for efficiency. In this scenario, horses would graze under the moonlight, as if the “finish line” has been removed. This is an idealistic vision: if AI truly transforms productivity and supply-demand relationships, we could return to a more natural lifestyle. However, it’s just a hypothesis that offers hope—AI could be both a tool for exploitation or a key to our liberation.
Final Thoughts
This article does not oppose AI but warns us to not lose our true selves while embracing it. Efficiency is important, but the purpose behind it is crucial. If it leads to greater freedom, that’s great; if it merely creates more competition, we need to reflect on whether we are becoming mere tools in a larger system. Zhuangzi would likely be dissatisfied with today’s AI, as it distances us from our natural state. Yet, future AI could potentially help us reconnect with our true selves.