More than Algorithms

This piece was awarded first place in the Humanists of Greater Portland’s annual essay contest for high school seniors seeking funding for post-high school education. 

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Every day reminds me how much we rely on tiny lines of code we never even see. Watching artificial intelligence evolve before my eyes has forced me to consider the preservation of human responsibility in a world with constantly changing technology. Advancing artificial intelligence doesn’t invalidate Humanism, but rather strengthens what the way of life asks of its followers. Humanists must prioritize human responsibility to ensure that accountability remains in human hands, despite technological advancements that surpass us in specific forms of intelligence.

As articulated by the American Humanist Association, “Humanism… affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment” (“Definition of Humanism”). Artificial intelligence is not supernatural, therefore surpassing the preclusion by Humanism. Instead, AI complicates human-centered ethics. The technology can appear to replace human judgement. It impedes the Commitment of Critical Thinking, detracting from the human experience of “asking questions and thinking for [one]self” (“The Ten Commitments of Living Humanist Values”). Therefore, Humanism rejects outsourcing moral responsibility. However, it doesn’t necessarily reject the use of tools, such as artificial intelligence. Instead, the philosophy avoids automatically deferring to AI without critical thought.

In contrast to Humanism’s belief that “nothing is supernatural” and that one “basic assumption is Naturalism,” artificial intelligence is different because it is human created. As an aspiring computer scientist, I’ve learned to recognize the data and algorithms that modern AI is built upon. As artificial intelligence advances, the algorithms can even be audited. This means that operationally, there can be a review of an AI model to ensure the system is safe, ethical, unbiased and complies with any worldview’s beliefs. Yet, this result is unlikely without the collective determination of humans.

In comparison, functionally, AI can begin to resemble a secular entity. In a world where society is constantly vying to get ahead, people don’t take the time to step back and think for themselves. Large language model outputs can be the only sense of direction an individual takes into account: “a majority is open to letting AI assist them with day-to-today tasks and activities” (Kennedy et al.). Eventually, the dependence and ease of life that comes from smart technology may shape the future. There is always something newer, quicker, shinier and smarter. Inherently, humans are quick to replace their own decision-making process for the efficient option. This utilitarianism applies to students, those in the workforce, and to experiences in every stage of life.

In a more advanced sense, “the mindset… places great emphasis on optimization as the core operation of rationality” (Tasioulas). The progress of artificial intelligence is not neutral, and can be shaped by human values. The future goals of AI, including “health, justice, and security” can be integrated in a way “that respects and advances the dignity and well-being of humans” (Tasioulas). For example, one advancing use of AI is within genetic testing and editing: “From the previous data of a gene model, it can help in the detection of heredity and gene-related disorders” (Vilhekar). Yet, scientific and technological progress is accelerating much faster than our efforts to guide it ethically. While AI will dramatically improve many scientific aspects of life, a component that Humanism strives for, modern society risks losing its “shared commitment to the human” (Spencer). The belief is not anti-science; rather, in a world where the future must hold space for both artificial intelligence and Humanism, its success depends on whether we can ethically apply our understanding of what it means to be human to technology. These genetic technologies have the potential to reduce suffering but they should be balanced with questioning how much human intervention is necessary. Their use must remain grounded in human autonomy and well-being, not solely efficiency.

Focusing on the Ten Commitments, there are many likely ongoing effects if advanced AI continues to become widespread and normalized. First, to Altruism, or to “help others”, artificial intelligence will inevitably lead to reduced human-to-human interaction, because many forms of routine care will become automated. On the other hand, AI could support larger scale efforts of “the welfare of other living beings”, such as with accessibility technology (“The Ten Commitments of Living Humanist Values”). Empathy faces a similar possibility. The risk of the Commitment of Critical Thinking is already visible, which I discussed above. In an educational setting, the repeated use of generative AI has already led to “less brain activity” and will reduce overall cognitive effort (“Generative Artificial Intelligence | Center for Teaching Innovation”).

The Environmental impacts of artificial intelligence are great, as it consumes energy and water in large quantities. Humanistic society should continue to push for ethical limits on use of the technology and standards for what materials can be used. Artificial intelligence comes with many ethical dilemmas relating to bias and privacy. The Humanism Commitment to consistently adapt to become a better person will be strengthened as society must evolve as fast as technology. Considering Global Awareness along with Peace and Social Justice, artificial intelligence impacts and falls on both sides of the spectrum. It has the potential to reduce inequality by widening access to knowledge, while simultaneously increasing the gap via tech monopolies or misinformation. With a Humanism mindset, there are opportunities for open access and fair distribution of the benefits that come from AI. As for Humility, Humanists will continue to know our “strengths and weaknesses” and “embrace… what we have” while keeping artificial intelligence as a tool, not a replacement for ourselves (“The Ten Commitments of Living Humanist Values”). Service and Participation must be actively pursued, as AI will tempt individuals to disengage from the world around them and neglect the need to develop new skills. Responsibility is embedded within the effort that all 10 Commitments will need to maintain a Humanist way of life alongside the onset of artificial intelligence.

Humanism depends on individuals making meaning and participating in society. If AI writes our ideas and we only look at the world through a limited technological lens, humans risk becoming less autonomous, despite the efficiency. In a future for Humanists with AI, the role of the individual will change. From being researchers and problem-solvers, humans will also have to be decision makers and evaluate the ethics of the information being fed to them. There may be less thinking work but this correlates to the increase of judgement. Society must remain responsible in preserving human control and ensuring the AI is ethically guided. Artificial intelligence is not a threat because it is artificial. It only becomes a threat if we give up our agency to systems we created just to make our lives easier. Throughout my time in high school, I’ve learned that technology doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Conversations about how artificial intelligence connects with education, business, society and other fields remind me that these intersections are just as important as the algorithms themselves. In rooms full of computers, there are also diverse groups of real people who are impacted by the choices made, including ourselves. There is a way to integrate AI in our world in a way that preserves dignity.

Works Cited

“Definition of Humanism.” American Humanist Association, 31 March 2026, https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/definition-of-humanism/. Accessed 5 April 2026.

“Generative Artificial Intelligence | Center for Teaching Innovation.” Center for Teaching Innovation, https://teaching.cornell.edu/generative-artificial-intelligence. Accessed 5 April 2026.

Human Studies. “The Ten Commitments of Living Humanist Values.” Human Studies Resources for exploring our common humanity, https://humanstudies.education/home/humanist-

vision/ten-commitments-for-teachers/theten-commitments-of-living-humanist-values/ . Accessed 5 April 2026.

Kennedy, Brian, et al. “How Americans View AI and Its Impact on Human Abilities, Society.” Pew Research Center, 17 September 2025, https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2025/09/17/how-americans-view-ai-and-its-impacton-people-and-society/. Accessed 5 April 2026.

Spencer, Nick. “Humanism matters in the age of AI.” Engelsberg Ideas, 19 June 2021, https://engelsbergideas.com/essays/humanism-matters-in-the-age-of-ai/. Accessed 5 April 2026.

Tasioulas, John. “Artificial Intelligence, Humanistic Ethics.” Daedalus, no. Spring 2022, 2022. American Academy of Arts & Sciences, https://www.amacad.org/publication/daedalus/artificial-intelligence-humanistic-ethics. Accessed 5 April 2026.

Vilhekar, Rohit S. “Artificial Intelligence in Genetics – PMC.” PMC, 10 January 2024, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10856672/. Accessed 5 April 2026.