The “Sputnik Moment” Delusion

China’s new AI program Deep Seek has taken the world by surprise. China is known for its penchant for stealing ideas and joining those ideas with slave labor and authoritarianism to manufacture cheap junk, and now a Chinese outfit has surprisingly developed something new— and it’s better than the most cutting-edge AI programs produced here in America. 

Combining some well-known methods of programing an AI platform and using less sophisticated microchips, Deep Seek is far cheaper and more efficient than American counterparts like ChatGPT (or, at least, this is claimed by its creators). This, in turn, lowers the barrier of entry for other engineers to develop AI products and relieve some of the power grids being overtaxed by massive energy-sucking data centers. Consequently, the announcement of Deep Seek has caused the mammoth microchip manufacturer Nvidia, whose chips are primarily used for AI, to lose over half a trillion dollars in the stock market. 

Ever fond of historical clichés, commentators are calling this a “Sputnik moment,” referring to that famous moment in the mid-twentieth century where American scientists were shaken out of their complacency when the Russian satellite Sputnik appeared in the sky. So the story goes, this event caused Americans to mobilize every educational institution and amass extensive resources in order to build up a rival space program that would beat the Soviet Union in the Space Race. No longer would our best and brightest be asked to memorize poetry and learn dead languages; they would take advanced calculus in high school and learn the principles of rocketry during their spare time.

Obviously, the implication is that Americans today need to be similarly shaken out of their intellectual stupor, with schools doubling down on STEM instruction, investors throwing even more billions at AI, and the federal government taking some kind of action. Otherwise, China will win the AI race and enslave the rest of the world with its superior computing capabilities. At least this is what the tech boosters like Marc Andreesson keep telling us, and surely they aren’t doing this out of any self-interested motives.

Of course, none of the skepticism expressed here is meant to disparage the importance of AI technology and its potential impact on the economy and the way people live. However, we should at least question some of the underlying materialistic assumptions behind this modern obsession with science and technology. 

For at least a century or more, Westerners have been conditioned to see each new discovery and invention as a point in some grand civilizational competition. SpaceX can catch space shuttles coming down to earth? Point for the USA! China has a new AI program that’s cheaper than American AI? Point for China! Danish drug companies are making billions off weight-loss drugs? Point for Denmark!

Connected to this framing is the simplistic belief in material progress—even when the new device or theory actually makes little difference for average people. It’s simply a given that life must be better now because AI can generate fake essays, fake stories, and fake pornography. Surely, the assembly-line worker and small farmer trying to make ends meet should take solace in the fact that American astronauts once planted a flag on the moon before the Russians did. In just a few years, somewhere over the horizon, technology will supposedly heal all wounds, bring society together, and usher in a golden age. 

Yes, some technological innovations really have made life easier. The internet and digital technology have enabled the easy sharing of information, allowing even the least privileged to educate themselves on whatever topic and better participate in the modern economy and public discourse. Modern appliances and tools have eliminated so much daily drudgery, thereby freeing individuals with far more leisure. And advanced transportation has enabled a global network of trade that gives nearly every consumer in the developed world the ability to travel anywhere and order any item they want to be delivered. 

Nevertheless, with each innovation comes some kind of trade-off, usually a spiritual one. In recent decades, new technology has greatly amplified the influence of each of the deadly sins: pride, avarice, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and especially sloth. Meanwhile, the virtues that oppose these vices—humility, generosity, chastity, gratitude, moderation, patience, and industry—have noticeably diminished in the wake of each new device. 

It should be obvious that what’s needed today is—to abuse another historical cliché—a new Great Awakening, a collective return to the spiritual life and self-reliance. More than ever, Americans today need to purify their lives, recover their humanity, and connect with others in fruitful, nonutilitarian community.  It should be obvious that what’s needed today is—to abuse another historical cliché—a new Great Awakening, a collective return to the spiritual life and self-reliance.Tweet This

Ideally, this would happen in the context of the Catholic Faith, which has over two millennia’s worth of tools to facilitate such a movement. But so many of today’s Church leaders and prominent clergymen seem disinclined to encourage believers to change their lives accordingly. Many of them have adopted the materialistic, progressive mindset that takes more pride in championing social justice causes and hosting useless discussions over “synodality” than in bringing humanity to Christ and igniting a spiritual renaissance. 

This leaves the great task of universal conversion and religious revival to the laity, who (ironically enough) are empowered with modern technology to bring back the old traditions, recover ancient wisdom, and cultivate a spiritual life. While most people are naturally obligated to work and provide for their families, and may even be called to join in initiatives to push society forward (i.e., space travel, AI, self-driving flying cars, etc.), the most important task of every person should be to enlarge his soul, love his neighbor, and love God above all. 

If this happens in any capacity, it would be much more shocking and wonderful than any new revelation in our ongoing project to master nature, amass power, and maximize all conceivable human comforts.