Because now we have Microsoft Copilot (with free GPT4), I’ve tested it with something different: I found on internet an interesting image, searching for an windows desktop background image. And I was fascinated by this! I asked Copilot to tell me about “to be or not to be” from Hamlet and then to write, in this context, an article about this image. Yes, we can show it images and chat about it.
The phrase “to be or not to be” is the opening line of a famous soliloquy from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. In this speech, Hamlet expresses his thoughts about life and death, and whether it is better to endure the hardships of the world or to end them by killing himself. He also wonders what happens after death, and whether it is a peaceful sleep or a nightmare. He concludes that the fear of the unknown after death prevents people from taking their own lives, and that conscience makes them cowardly and indecisive12
The image you sent me shows a skull and a robot head facing each other. The skull represents death and the robot represents technology and the future. The image could be seen as a modern interpretation of the “to be or not to be” question, as it raises questions about the value of human life in a world increasingly dominated by technology.
Here is an article I wrote based on the image and the soliloquy:
To Be or Not to Be: A Modern Dilemma
What is the meaning of life in the age of artificial intelligence? This is the question that the artist of this image seems to ask, as he juxtaposes a skull and a robot head in a striking contrast. The skull symbolizes the mortality and fragility of human beings, while the robot head suggests the immortality and strength of machines. The image invites us to reflect on the existential dilemma that Hamlet faced in his famous soliloquy: to be or not to be, that is the question.
Hamlet was torn between living and dying, between suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or taking arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them. He wondered what awaited him after death, whether it was a peaceful sleep or a dreadful dream. He realized that the fear of the unknown prevented him from taking his own life, and that his conscience made him hesitate and delay his actions.
In our modern times, we face a similar dilemma, but with a different twist. We are not only confronted with the choice between life and death, but also with the choice between human and machine. Technology has advanced to the point where machines can perform tasks that were once exclusive to humans, such as learning, reasoning, creating, and communicating. Machines can also surpass humans in many aspects, such as speed, accuracy, memory, and endurance. Machines can even emulate human emotions and expressions, making them seem more human-like and appealing.
But what does this mean for us, as human beings? Are we still valuable and unique, or are we becoming obsolete and replaceable? Are we still the masters of our own destiny, or are we becoming the slaves of our own creations? Are we still the source of meaning and purpose, or are we becoming the victims of nihilism and despair?
These are the questions that we need to ask ourselves, as we face the challenges and opportunities of the technological revolution. We need to find a balance between embracing and resisting technology, between enhancing and preserving our humanity, between being and not being. We need to remember that technology is a tool, not a goal, and that it should serve us, not dominate us. We need to remember that we are more than our bodies and brains, and that we have a soul and a spirit that machines cannot replicate. We need to remember that we are not alone, and that we have a responsibility and a connection to other human beings and to the natural world.
We need to remember that to be or not to be is not only a question, but also an answer. It is an answer that we give every day, with every choice we make, with every action we take, with every word we say. It is an answer that reflects our values and our vision, our hopes and our fears, our dreams and our realities. It is an answer that defines who we are and what we want to be.
To be or not to be, that is the question. And the answer is up to us.