Assisting Intelligence

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Apathetic Intelligence

Apathetic Intelligence results from a relentless barrage of information in the digital age—information overload. Pushing the boundaries of messaging in all directions results in a complete breakdown of a disinterested audience to rhetoric, a consequence of the abuse of disinformation (logos), the loss of respect and credibility (ethos), and frenetic appeals (pathos). Apathetic Intelligence is where the audience has been bombarded with emotional persuasion and disinformation past the point of saturation. Each of Aristotle’s rhetorical elements has been pushed to extremes. With AI empowering a massive increase in quantity, skilled arguments can be generated, filled with emotional manipulation, and disseminated easily as deepfakes. It is already happening. It's crucial to develop strategies to combat digital exhaustion and promote critical thinking. To combat digital exhaustion, it's crucial to develop strategies to filter information, evaluate sources, and cultivate a healthy relationship with technology.