On The Rise: What do we call an AI? + The billion dollar question and talking to orangtangs

Published about 20 hours ago • 4 min read

Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week.

Today, a series of seemingly unrelated articles and posts that are all about getting you unstuck. So many leaders (like me) are great at getting in their own way. Today, Glenn Packiam, Kevin Kelly, Seth Godin, Charlie Munger and an Orangutan will help you make some progress.

Is Talking to AI the Same as Talking to a Person?

Glenn Packiam weighs in.

I had an hour drive to the airport recently and I decided to talk to Claude about a problem I’m facing. The conversation was amazing and helped me solve my problem.

At any other point in my life, that would have been a one hour call with a close friend, with my therapist or coach or a mentor. But that day it was an AI. Except my friends don’t write up a two page report that I send to my team after the discussion. Claude did that for me.

You’ve probably had similar conversations with AI.

So what do you do with that? Glenn Packiam writes a really helpful distinction that is a great reminder that no matter how helpful or empathetic a machine is, it’s an “it”, not a person.

Also see Charlie Munger’s quote at the end of today’s On the Rise. Some of our chats with AI are much like talking to an Orangutan.

The Book Is Just the Beginning

Everything you need to act on it is in The AI Hub.

There's a difference between understanding what AI means for the church and knowing what to do about it on Monday. AI and the Future Church gives you the first, and the AI Hub (its companion), gives you the second.

Read the book for the framework. Then use the Hub to see where your church stands, what to address first, and how to lead your team through it.

The AI Hub is a free resource hub designed with the tools, research, frameworks, and practical next steps to help you move from understanding what's coming to actually leading your church through it.

Whether you've finished the book (have you left a review?), or you're just getting started, it's worth a visit. Haven’t got a copy?

Get Your Copy Now

If I Had a Billion Dollars…

Kevin Kelly asks a great question.

My book recommendation on Seth Godin (below) is on getting unstuck, and so is this Substack from Kevin Kelly.

What would you do if you had a billion dollars?

Most of us have a list (new house, new car, some travel, help some family/friends out, give to charity). Great. You still haven’t spend hardly any of it.

Then what?

The point? Money doesn’t solve your problems. You could do much of what you want to do without money or with very little money.

So why are you still stuck? Worth the read.

Joining Together to Expand the Kingdom

Compassion International can help your congregation step out in faith.

Compassion International has been empowering children to overcome poverty with the hope of the gospel for almost 75 years. They work hand-in-hand with the local church — in communities where kids face poverty and churches right here at home.

The heart of Compassion is the same as ours: growing the kingdom of God, creating disciples across the globe. They equip church leaders to ignite a spark of generosity across a congregation and can help your members step into the world of global missions without leaving their seat.

Check out compassion.com/carey and head to the Church Partnership section. Fill out the information and a Compassion team member will reach out with opportunities suited for your church.

Learn More

Weekly Recommendation

Seth Godin, The Knot

Seth is a living genius, and if you haven’t discovered his work, you should. His latest book is excellent for leaders who want to overcome their biggest obstacle—themselves. It’s a great summary of much of his thinking and will help you get past the 1000 reasons you have for not making progress.

Check It Out

The Immense Benefits of Talking to an Orangutan

Charlie Munger’s Theory.

"If a smart person goes into a room with an orangutan and explains whatever his or her idea is, the orangutan just sits there eating his banana, and at the end of the conversation, the person explaining comes out smarter."

That’s Warren Buffett’s long time best friend, Charlie Munger’s theory on the value of talking through your problems out loud. It’s what Charlie and Warren did for each other.

That’s true for leaders. Sometimes you just need someone to hear you out.

I believe it’s also true for pastoral care. 98% of pastoral care is having someone who cares. Maybe not an orangutan, but definitely someone just to hear you out. It doesn’t have to be the pastor.