Generative AI: A Mindful Alternative to the Mindless “Raw-Dogging” Flight Trend

The latest trend of doing nothing on flights, referred to as “raw-dogging”, has passengers avoiding any activities or stimuli during their journey, but the emergence of generative AI may provide a mindful alternative to this mindless approach.

Key aspects of the “raw-dogging” trend: The trend involves passengers consciously deciding to avoid any form of entertainment, consumption, or social interaction during a flight, essentially creating a modified sensory deprivation experience:

• Passengers are expected to sit quietly, avoid conversations, politely rebuff others, and respond only to flight attendants or crew when necessary.
• Eating, drinking, using devices, reading, or engaging with in-flight entertainment is strictly prohibited.
• The goal is to either empty one’s mind completely or fill it with self-generated thoughts, without relying on external stimuli.

Challenges and limitations of the trend: While some may find the idea of disconnecting and self-reflection appealing, the reality of implementing this approach during a flight presents several difficulties:

• Completely emptying one’s mind or generating self-sustaining thoughts for an extended period can be extremely challenging for most people.
• The presence of various stimuli on a flight, such as visual information, odors, sounds, and physical sensations, makes it difficult to achieve true sensory deprivation.
• The rules of the trend are somewhat ambiguous, leading to potential gray areas and inconsistencies in adherence.

Generative AI as a potential solution: The use of generative AI, such as ChatGPT or Bard, could provide a mindful alternative to the mindless “raw-dogging” approach, allowing passengers to engage in meaningful conversations and pursuits without violating the core principles of the trend:

• Generative AI can provide engaging, educational, and entertaining conversations tailored to the user’s preferences, helping to occupy the mind during the flight.
• These AI interactions can be conducted discreetly through text-based interfaces, avoiding disruption to other passengers and maintaining a sense of isolation.
• Passengers can use generative AI for mental health guidance, discussing personal issues or seeking therapeutic advice in a confidential manner.

Potential drawbacks and considerations: While generative AI may seem like a perfect solution, there are some important caveats to keep in mind:

• Generative AI is not sentient and has limitations, such as the potential for errors, inconsistencies, or “hallucinations” in its responses.
• Privacy concerns may arise, as conversations with AI are not always entirely confidential and may be used for further AI training by the developers.
• The long-term effects of relying on generative AI for mental health advice are still unknown and could potentially lead to negative outcomes on a societal level.

Envisioning the future of in-flight experiences: As generative AI becomes more prevalent, it is likely to reshape the way passengers spend their time during flights, regardless of whether it aligns perfectly with the “raw-dogging” trend:

• Passengers may increasingly turn to generative AI as a means of mental engagement and stimulation during flights.
• The trend itself may evolve to accommodate the use of AI, with modified rules that allow for mindful AI interactions while still adhering to the core principles of disconnection and self-reflection.
• Ultimately, the choice between mindlessness and mindfulness during a flight will come down to individual preferences, with generative AI providing a novel option for those seeking a middle ground.