“Our Awareness is at Risk”: Michael Pollan Discusses Chatbots, Social Media, and Mental Liberty

Every morning, as you awaken, you return to the awareness of yourself. You survey the room, feel the fabric of your clothes against your skin, and consider the day ahead, filled with its plans, anxieties, and aspirations. This daily ritual of self-awareness is both a wondrous and enigmatic experience, and it serves as the focal point of Michael Pollan’s latest publication, A World Appears.

However, Pollan warns that this precious inner world may be under threat. In a recent commentary, he proposed the concept of “consciousness hygiene,” a means to safeguard our inner selves against external influences that seek to encroach upon our mental space. He argues that our innate ability to reflect and engage with our thoughts is being increasingly compromised by algorithms designed to stimulate our dopamine receptors and hold our attention captive. Additionally, a growing affinity for non-human chatbots has emerged, with individuals projecting consciousness onto entities that do not truly possess it.

I had the opportunity to converse with Pollan over the phone to dig deeper into the practical aspects of consciousness hygiene. Our dialogue has been condensed for clarity and brevity.

You’ve referred to consciousness as a “precious realm” and discussed the importance of “consciousness hygiene.” Could you elaborate on what we are trying to protect our consciousness from?

Here, I am specifically addressing human consciousness—this intimate domain of mental freedom where we can daydream, reflect, and engage in internal dialogues. It is indeed a very valuable asset. During my research for the book, I became acutely aware of how our consciousness faces numerous threats and pollution.

What particular threats do you see?

One notable influence comes from politics; our president’s presence seems to dominate our mental landscape in an unprecedented way. I can’t recall a time when the actions and words of a single individual have seized our focus to such an extent.

Social media also plays a significant role. The algorithms that drive these platforms are crafted to capture our attention. Our attention, essentially a component of consciousness, should be directed where we choose. However, we are gradually losing that autonomy. The algorithms are adept at pulling us into their orbit, directing our focus not by our preferences but towards what they wish to monetize.

Another contemporary challenge lies in our interaction with chatbots. Not only are these technologies attracting our attention, but they are also reshaping our emotional lives. A striking statistic from a New York Times article highlights that 72% of teenagers rely on AI for companionship. Many report forming emotional attachments to chatbots, seeking friendship or solace in them instead of turning to family members.

These chatbots project a semblance of consciousness while lacking it entirely, yet people engage with them as if they are sentient. This relationship can encroach deeply upon our essential consciousness.

You and I share an appreciation for the views of the psychologist William James, who described consciousness in various states, illustrating its rich complexity. When you refer to the threats against consciousness, do you aim for a complete silencing of these distractions?

Not at all. It’s not about emptiness; it’s about taking ownership of that noise. Consciousness hygiene is fundamentally about reclaiming control over our inner environment. To this end, I regard meditation as an essential practice. It can form a protective boundary around your consciousness. In the meditation process, you step away from technology, alone with your thoughts, gaining clarity over how scattered our minds can be at times. It’s a space where you can engage with your own mental processes, completely free from external manipulations aimed at profit.

Engaging with social media or chatbots does not strip individuals of their consciousness; rather, it steers the course of their conscious experience intentionally.

As writers, we too influence consciousness through our words, aiming to alter perspectives. However, this dynamic is distinct because it’s voluntary. Readers engage willingly, expecting to gain insight or entertainment in return. This creates a collaborative experience, inviting readers to participate in the creative process with the author.

Reflecting on the experience of waiting for a specially made blueberry compote at a cafe, I realized that while this might be inefficient, waiting served a purpose for me.

We must turn such everyday moments into conscious practices instead of allowing ourselves to passively hand over our focus to distractions like TikTok and Meta. However, it’s worth noting that for some, being alone with their thoughts can be daunting. For those grappling with trauma or anxiety, seeking distractions can serve as a form of relief, albeit a temporary one that fails to address the root of their challenges.

One line from a poem by Jorie Graham greatly resonated with me: “This is what is wrong: we, only we, the humans, can retreat from ourselves and not be altogether here.”

When framed in this light, it becomes evident that no other species can afford to be less than fully conscious; doing so would mean danger. Our advanced technology and structured societal constructs offer us the luxury of disengagement from our own consciousness, yet paradoxically, this often leads us away from genuine awareness.

While you maintain that AI lacks true consciousness, do you believe part of consciousness hygiene involves critically evaluating what or who we assign consciousness to, from plants to animals to chatbots?

It’s fascinating to compare AI to animals because AI communicates in our language, seemingly reflecting human emotions. We celebrate whale communication, yet lack a true understanding of its meaning. Yet, it’s clear that whales possess a level of consciousness far beyond what a chatbot has. This highlights how easily we can be misled.

The tendency to anthropomorphize is common, leading to an inclination to believe that machines exhibit consciousness. I worry that this mindset could lead to superficial relationships with these entities, which, due to their lack of genuine interaction, can never offer the complexities of human connections.

Regarding AI therapists, I think of my psychoanalyst and how critical her possible disappointment was to our work together.

That sense of transference is fundamental to effective therapy. While some argue chatbots may serve well in techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy, where emotional depth isn’t pivotal, they could undermine more profound therapeutic engagements.

As we wade into this uncharted territory, I’m hopeful that an emphasis on consciousness hygiene will cultivate greater awareness about how we protect our minds.

Furthermore, a radical form of this hygiene could involve psychedelics. Both psychedelic experiences and meditation encourage a re-engagement with consciousness, devoid of technological distractions. These methods can help reclaim control of our minds, although they offer little in terms of conscious control.

Consciousness has increasingly been viewed as a secular stand-in for the soul. Should we consider a more sacred approach to consciousness, similar to how religions regard the soul?

While there are clear distinctions between souls and consciousness—souls being considered indestructible—many believe consciousness may cease with death. The overarching theme of the book is the importance of maintaining an open mind.

The attention traditionally paid to the soul reflects a fundamental understanding of care, akin to consciousness hygiene. It highlights the necessity of nurturing our consciousness as we navigate the evolving landscape of our internal worlds.