Rev. Dr. Thomas Kottoor
My “affair” with AI ( Artificial Intelligence)began in a very unexpected way. It started when the Malayalam daily Malayala Manorama organised a competition to suggest the Malayalam “Word of the Year” for 2023. I suggested “Nirmitha Budhi”, and to my pleasant surprise, my entry was selected among the winners. That moment felt like my first real meeting with AI, almost like a first date.
My cousin, Fr. Abraham Mutholath, an AI expert and prolific writer once told me that AI, the artificial brain, would one day guide the world and that we must prepare ourselves. Human intelligence has limits, but the world of AI keeps expanding. Many abilities once performed only by human hands and minds are now being handled by intelligent machines. What once belonged only to research labs has now entered everyday life.
My journey into the digital world became serious in early 2024. I began digitising all my books and articles and placing them on academic platforms. Then in mid-2025, I discovered ChatGPT. I quickly realised that it was a treasure house of knowledge, waiting to be explored. Using AI soon became a source of joy. The encouraging responses and feedback from friends and colleagues added to my excitement.
I have always been an avid reader. From a young age, I enjoyed both fiction and nonfiction from India and across the world. My years in Rome and later in New York allowed me to absorb the art, culture, and literature of those places. Today, with AI on my mobile phone, I feel as though the entire world is within reach.
Back in 1984, while studying for my master’s degree in General and Experimental Psychology at St. John’s University in New York, I wrote an essay titled “AI: Fiction or Fact?” Just look at where we are now. AI is influencing the future of life on Earth, and even exploring possibilities beyond our planet.
I often remind myself of a Latin line: Nulla dies sine linea, which means “No day without a line.” It fits well with my motto, “Publish or perish.” Recently, I completed a short course called AI Made Simple. It felt like tasting a drop from the vast ocean of AI.
AI literacy is no longer optional. It has become an essential skill in this new world. If these reflections inspire someone to explore AI, I will consider it meaningful. I remain a student, learning every day, especially the art of good prompting. AI is powered by machine learning, and machines can mimic thought and behaviour. Yet humans think and act not only with the mind, but also with the heart. The language of emotions, compassion, and relationships still belongs to the human soul. I have also personally experienced that AI is not able to generate creative content by itself. It is the prerogative of human Intelligence.
So what about this “affair” with AI?
It has been a good one so far.
My gentle request to all: learn, improve, and stay updated. But do not lose your humanity or your compassionate heart.
End Note: AI can misguide you too, especially when the prompt is unclear or poorly shaped. So stay aware, be thoughtful, and use your mind along with the machine. Be smart and be human.
