The rapid advancement and the pervasiveness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) present opportunities and challenges. The promise of ease from AI contributes to an overreliance on AI, which could lead to spiritual apathy and a kind of detachment that exacerbates the vice of acedia. This could gradually weaken one’s capacity to think critically, diminish focus on spiritual well-being, and foster moral passivity, which undermines the dignity and purpose of the human person. As AI systems and digital technologies bring unparalleled connectivity, they also systematically fragment attention. The constant flux of information and digital distraction normalizes aimless activity and pervasive meaninglessness. These modern manifestations mirror the essence of the ancient vice of acedia. Acedia is traditionally described by St. Thomas Aquinas as "a sadness at, or flight from, the divine good, especially as it is within us," which "weighs upon the mind so that one wants to do nothing" (ST II-II, q.35, a.1). St. Thomas argues that it is a kind of sorrow or an escape from life ultimate purpose, a turning away from the divine good. This study explores the profound meaning of the ancient vice of acedia and how it can manifest in various ways in the age of AI. It further examines the challenges posed by acedia, and finally, it proposes ways to overcome the difficulties of acedia in the digital age.

Authors:
Maila Blanza, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Prof. Maila Montemayor-Blanza is an educator with a focus on pneumatology and contemporary missiology. She holds a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Santo Tomas(UST. She teaches theology at UST and guest professor in its Ecclesiastical Faculty

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