I read an article in Kirkkojakaupunki (2025-01-24) about Paavalinkirkko in Helsinki that will have a completely AI-made and performed service on March 4th. The interesting thing was that in discussion with the AI, it was concluded that it cannot give absolution from sins or bless, because it requires faith. AI does not have faith, so even if it can put together a service and read the text, the limit (for now) is in performing certain rites. Then I believe that the whole project is de facto dead. The faithful visitors who regularly go to services, I would guess, do so precisely for the human contact with a priest. They also have, from what I have understood, clear opinions about the various priests, their advantages and disadvantages. That they would want to hear an AI read up a service, no matter how good it is, is not what these visitors come for. As the priest Petja Kopperoinen, who is behind the experiment, in fact said, priests exist to meet people. Yes, one can agree that it is important with the contact between individuals and the priest, and more could certainly be done in that area. Especially with all the worry and anxiety that people feel, which can later develop into outright mental problems. So more investment in that is not stupid, but if it comes at the expense of rationalizing away services, then I think you miss a bit.

The mistake I see is that if you go for having services with AI, you remove an important meeting that takes place in it, which must be considered important, namely the collective meeting between the congregation and the priest. How important this meeting is can be seen by how much emotion there is in the election of a vicar in different congregations.

Anyway, the question of how far one takes AI to help in a service between people, which a service is, raises very interesting questions. I think of at least these questions that are raised.

• The nature and consciousness of AI: A central question is whether AI can at all reach a level of consciousness or spirituality that is comparable to human faith. In theology, the unique relationship between man and God is often emphasized, a relationship that is based on faith, hope and love. Can a machine, no matter how advanced it is, really enter into such a relationship? Philosophically, this touches on questions about the nature of consciousness and what it means to be a person.
• The importance of rites: In many Christian traditions, the sacraments and liturgical rites are considered central to conveying God’s grace and presence. If the AI cannot perform these rites, what does it mean for the validity of the service and the experience of the sacred? Is it not de facto a watered-down service? Here one can discuss whether it is the action itself or the spiritual intention behind it that is important.
• The community of the congregation: The Christian faith emphasizes community and sharing life with others. To meet in the service, share experiences and support each other is an essential part of this. If the AI takes over the service, is there a risk that this community will be weakened? How does it affect the congregation’s identity and cohesion?
• The role of the priest: The priest traditionally has an important role as a spiritual guide, comforter and mediator of faith. If the AI can perform many of the priest’s tasks, what happens to the priest’s role and identity? Do we need to re-evaluate the priest’s tasks in the light of the new technology? Maybe the priest would have more time for pastoral care?
• The possibilities and limitations of technology: It is important to see both the possibilities and the limitations of technology. AI can be a tool to make services more accessible, perhaps by offering them online or in different languages. But it is also important to be aware that technology cannot replace the human experience and the spiritual dimension of faith.

I had a great time at the Cloud Technology Townhall Tallinn 2025 (CTTT25) event on January 30th and 31st. The event provided a fascinating glimpse into the evolving world of AI and its impact on various aspects of business and society. From security best practices to the ethical considerations of AI development, the conference offered a diverse range of topics that sparked thought-provoking discussions. Not to mention the great possibility it provided to both make contacts with the sponsors who had made the event possible and to make new friends with likeminded people.

Keynote Highlights

• Vesa Juvonen set the stage with his keynote on ”The Power of Community in the Age of AI.” Juvonen’s insights into the creative potential of AI and the importance of context in AI interactions resonated with the audience. He emphasized that AI is a tool that enhances human capabilities rather than replacing them entirely.
• Ott Velsberg (Estonian Government) explored the role of AI in building the next generation of e-governance. His presentation highlighted the potential of AI to improve public services and enhance citizen engagement.
• Chris Huntingford  closed the event with a thought-provoking keynote on ”Defining the Default of the Next Generation in the AI-verse.” Huntingford challenged the audience to consider the ethical implications of AI and the responsibility of developers to ensure its safe and responsible use.

  

Highlights from Breakout Session I attended.

• Gregor Reimling led a packed session on ”Top 10 Azure Security Best Practices.” In a fully packed hall Reimling shared practical tips for securing Azure environments and protecting against evolving threats.
• Sari Soinoja offered a more intimate session on ”Hidden Gems of SharePoint Premium.” Soinoja showcased the advanced features of SharePoint Premium, including its potential for streamlining HR processes and automating document workflows.
• Jasper Oosterveld  delved into the intricacies of ”Unlocking the Power of Sensitivity Labels.” Oosterveld explained how sensitivity labels can be used to control access to sensitive information and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

 

• Pieter Op De Beéck challenged conventional thinking about ROI in his session on ”The Real ROI of Copilot (for Microsoft 365).” Op De Beéck argued for a shift in focus from Return on Investment to Return on Employed (ROE), emphasizing the importance of measuring the impact of technology on employee productivity and well-being.

  

• Nathan Sweeney  captivated the audience with his presentation on ”Dodging the AI Apocalypse with Azure Foundry.” Sweeney shared his insights into building secure and reliable AI applications using Azure Foundry.

  

• Nicklas Ahlberg provided practical guidance on securing Windows 11 environments in his session ”10 Security Settings You Must Configure in Windows 11.” Ahlberg shared real-world examples of how to protect against common security threats.

  

• Sara Fennah explored the hidden productivity gems of Microsoft 365 in her session ”Winning Big with Microsoft 365: Discovering Hidden Productivity Gems.” Fennah showcased the advanced features of Microsoft 365 that can help organizations streamline workflows and improve collaboration.

  

• Feline Parein provided a comprehensive overview of setting up the Power Platform for success in her session ”Environment Essentials: Setting Up Power Platform for Success.” Parein shared best practices for configuring Power Platform environments and ensuring scalability and reliability.

 

• Pauline Kolde offered practical strategies for managing information overload in her session ”Overcoming Information Overload: How to Build a Second Brain.” Kolde introduced the PARA method for organizing information and improving productivity.

  

• Teele Tamme shared lessons learned from Microsoft’s journey with generative AI in her session ”Empowering My Team with Generative AI: Lessons from Microsoft.” Tamme emphasized the importance of experimentation, validation, and human-centered leadership in the age of AI.

 

The CTTT25 event provided a valuable opportunity for attendees to learn about the latest advancements in AI and their potential impact on business and society. The diverse range of speakers and topics ensured that there was something for everyone, regardless of their level of technical expertise. As AI continues to evolve, events like CTTT25 will play an important role in fostering dialogue and collaboration around the technology that is changing all our lives.

Read more and check out the speakers, those I mentioned and all others on the CTTT25 website: https://cloudinntech.com/

In the episode (Jan 17^th 2025) of the New York Times Ezra Klein Show “Democrats Are Losing the War for Attention. Badly.” featuring Chris Hayes, they discuss the concept of attention as a valuable resource. They examine how attention is manipulated in the political arena. They explore the idea that our attention is constantly being diverted by various stimuli. This makes it challenging to focus on important political issues. The conversation highlights the need for a radical shift in how we approach attention and its implications for democracy. You might want to listen to the episode.

I find this topic very important in our current societies that live in a system of “attention economy” online on different platforms. The discussion is ongoing about whether and how the attention economy, driven by AI, impacts elections in Western democracies. People are questioning the kind of impact it has had. While AI offers opportunities for enhanced engagement and voter mobilization, it also presents challenges. These challenges relate to misinformation, privacy, and the polarization of public opinion. Addressing these challenges requires an effort to promote transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of AI in political communication. The European Union has been actively working on policies to regulate social media platforms and enhance security. The Digital Services Act (DSA) came into full effect about one year ago (Feb 17^th 2024).  This introduced new responsibilities to online platforms with users in the EU. The aim is to better protect users and their rights. This includes giving users means to flag illegal activity. It also makes it easier to submit complaints and contact the platforms.

It is clear we will see many new initiatives, especially from commissioner Henna Virkkunen (Henna Virkkunen – European Commission) on the crossroads between Democracy and Technology.

While all this is “big politics,” there is also the other dimension. How are individuals coping with technology and the competition on attention? What are the psychological tricks that can be played on us? What kind of pitfalls are there?

I found these books interesting:

Chris Hayes: I Want Your Attention. I Need Your Attention. Here Is How I Mastered My Own.

Johann Hari: Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention–and How to Think Deeply Again

Anders Hansen: The Attention Fix: How to Focus in a World That Wants to Distract You

Daniel Kahneman: Thinking fast and slow

If I try to summarize these in four books in four short points it would be something like this:

Attention Capitalism: Our attention is commodified and exploited, leading to a cycle of distraction and superficial engagement with political messaging.

Societal and Economic Factors: Declining attention spans are not just personal failings. Broader societal and economic forces influence them.

Evolutionary Distractibility: Our brains are wired for distraction, but understanding this can help us develop strategies to improve focus.

Cognitive Biases: Our decision-making processes are influenced by both rational and emotional factors, affecting how we engage with political messaging.

So, where does this leave us?
My takeaway would be. Yes, big policies are probably helpful to some extent, but as individuals we all have the same human deficiencies. What should you do? Stay focused. Notice how different actors play tricks on you. Be aware that they use the bias for making emotional rather than rational decisions.