Facing the AI Wave: Psychedelics as Social Technology

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." — Charles Darwin

New technologies reshape our world, alter our perspectives, and transform who we are. The rapid progress in AI is poised to upend the established order of our current systems, institutions, and beliefs. There is a tsunami of change coming our way. While this disruption presents an opportunity to forge a better world in the long term, it may also cause significant harm to humanity. This transition will test humanity's wisdom and adaptability.

Imagine waking up to find that machines have surpassed us in learning and performing, outpacing our careers, identities, and sense of purpose. The skills we've honed and the knowledge we've accumulated suddenly become as outdated as floppy disks in the age of cloud storage. Gazing into our children's eyes, we might not know how to prepare them for a future we can't predict. 

What happens when millions feel this angst simultaneously? 

How do we navigate this uncharted territory? 

How do we replace the old with something demonstrably better—not worse?

Our greatest asset throughout human history has been our ability to adapt. From harnessing fire to developing language, we have transformed ourselves and our societies in response to new challenges. One intriguing and often overlooked factor in our evolutionary journey is the role of psychedelics. Throughout human evolution, our early ancestors inevitably encountered and likely ingested psychedelic mushrooms. Recent theories suggest that psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin-containing mushrooms, may have played a crucial role in enhancing our ancestors' cognitive flexibility, social cohesion, and capacity for innovation¹. By amplifying these essential human traits, psychedelics may have helped shape the socio-cognitive niche that defines our species today.

In this essay, I argue that psychedelics, much like in our evolutionary past, could serve as vital tools to enhance our adaptability in the face of advanced technologies. By fostering cognitive flexibility, emotional resilience, and social cohesion, psychedelics can help us navigate the profound disruptions we may face. 

First, I will present some of the challenges this transition may bring, and then explain how psychedelics can help us respond effectively. The last section will cover some of the potential risks and considerations regarding the collective use of psychedelics.

Treacherous Waters of Transition

We will confront an array of challenges in our transition to the AI era. Understanding potential pitfalls is crucial as we prepare to face the magnitude of change ahead. Here are some likely challenges:

Mass Unemployment and Institutional Collapse

AI may take over consequential share of the jobs, resulting in unprecedented levels of unemployment and economic insecurity. The sheer speed and magnitude of disruption could overwhelm our ability to retrain workers, create new economic opportunities, or make systemic changes, leading to widespread desperation across all strata of society. The rapid advancement of AI could render our current institutions, governance structures, and economic models obsolete, leading to a chaotic period of upheaval as society struggles to adapt to new realities².

Philosophical and Psychological Crisis

We may also face an existential crisis, questioning our identity, purpose, and worth in a world where machines can outperform us³. This looming crisis could lead to widespread depression, anxiety, and hopelessness, as individuals struggle with a loss of purpose and meaning. 

The exponential growth of AI technology that we cannot fully understand may leave us feeling out of control and helpless, triggering a collective freeze response—a cognitive and physiological shutdown. Prolonged exposure to such states could result in changes to the brain, establishing a vicious cycle that renders people susceptible to severe mental health problems. Studies on social contagion of mental health symptoms indicate that as mental distress spreads through social networks, it can lead to a breakdown in societal cohesion, trust, and collaboration⁴. This, in turn, can severely diminish our ability to respond to the challenges and opportunities of this new era.

Erosion of Social Fabric and Social Unrest

The information age has already eroded our social skills and our collective capacity to address complex challenges⁵. With many groups operating in increasingly different information and social spaces, we see a rise in friction and discord. As AI gets integrated into our lives, people may increasingly turn to AI companions for emotional support, intimacy, and decision-making, further exacerbating this trend. While these AI-driven interactions can provide comfort and convenience, they risk locking us in our individual mental silos and accelerating our social decline to a critical point. Moreover, if we embrace artificial relationships without discernment, we may irreparably damage our capacity for human connection and collaboration.

As social cohesion frays under the strain of economic upheaval, existential anxiety, and the erosion of shared meaning, the risk of social unrest, political polarization, and violent conflict could increase dramatically. The potential for widespread civil disorder and the breakdown of democratic institutions could further destabilize an already precarious situation, creating a vicious cycle of chaos and instability.

Navigating the Uncertain Future

Although these challenges are not certain, their likelihood is high. When the environment changes dramatically, we must change with it or risk obsolescence. The mental models and problem-solving approaches that have served us for millennia may suddenly become inadequate at this juncture. We stand at a crossroads where clinging to familiar paradigms could prove not just ineffective but potentially disastrous.

The adaptability needed right now isn't just about learning new skills or adopting new technologies—it requires fundamentally reshaping our understanding of ourselves, our society, and our place in the world. That's why we need tools to catalyze this process. Psychedelics, which played a key role in human evolution, could serve us once again - this time helping us navigate the unprecedented challenges of the AI era.

Psychedelics as Social Technology

Social technologies are tools and practices that enable new forms of collaboration, communication, and social organization. Psychedelics may offer a unique social technology by altering consciousness and fostering profound shifts in perception and behavior at both individual and collective levels.

Indigenous cultures across the globe have long used substances like psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca in ceremonies that promote healing, social unity, and spiritual insight⁶. The integration of psychedelics into early human rituals and social practices may have conferred selective advantages by enhancing social cohesion, creativity, and adaptability¹. As we navigate the challenges of AI-driven disruption, psychedelics may again offer potential pathways to enhance human adaptability. By revisiting these ancient tools within a modern context, we might find better solutions to complex problems we face.

Enhancing Cognitive Flexibility and Adaptiveness

As AI rapidly reshapes our world, cognitive flexibility becomes crucial. Paradoxically, our past experiences and expertise, often considered assets, can hinder adaptation to this new landscape. Emre Soyer, in "The Myth of Experience," argues that relying too heavily on past learnings can lead to cognitive rigidity, impeding our ability to navigate novel challenges⁸. 

Psychedelics show promise in enhancing cognitive flexibility by disrupting rigid belief systems and allowing for the emergence of new, more flexible mental models. The "REBUS" model (Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics) explains how psychedelics can temporarily relax the brain's prior beliefs, enabling adaptation to rapidly changing environments⁹. Research demonstrates this effect: a single dose of ayahuasca increased divergent thinking by 40%¹⁰, while recent studies reveal the neurological basis—psychedelics enhance neuroplasticity, facilitating adaptation to novel situations through increased synaptic plasticity and brain entropy¹¹,¹².

From an evolutionary standpoint, it's been suggested that psychedelics have been harnessed by early humans to manage psychological distress and health problems¹. By stimulating the serotonin system and promoting active coping strategies, psychedelics could have provided a means to alleviate stress and enhance well-being in challenging environments¹³. 

As AI advances threaten to destabilize job markets and provoke existential crises, psychological resilience becomes essential. Psychedelics have shown significant potential in building this resilience, producing lasting improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms¹⁴,¹⁵. Studies show increased emotional regulation capacity following psilocybin use¹⁶, suggesting these substances could help individuals manage psychological challenges, reducing the likelihood of a widespread mental health crisis.

Facilitating Connectedness and Collaboration

The true power of psychedelics may not lie in individual enlightenment but in collective transformation. From an anthropological perspective, the integration of psychedelics into ancient communal practices may have enhanced hominin responses to their environment while also aiding in the creation of social structures¹. Many indigenous cultures have long used psychedelics in group settings to strengthen community bonds⁶,⁷. In these ceremonies, participants often report a profound sense of unity, not just with each other but with the very essence of life itself. 

Modern research supports these observations, revealing that psychedelic experiences can dramatically enhance feelings of connectedness and empathy¹⁷,¹⁸. The awe and unity experienced during psychedelic journeys often translate into increased altruism and community-oriented behavior¹⁹, enhancing our ability to collaborate on complex problems.

Fostering Ecological Awareness and Connection

As we face the dual challenges of technological disruption and environmental crisis, psychedelics can help balance our relationship with nature. Studies show that psychedelic experiences significantly enhance nature connectedness and promote environmental consciousness, with effects persisting years after the experience²⁰,²¹.

Particularly relevant to our current challenges, psychedelics, and nature connection appear to work synergistically to improve mental health. Gandy et al. found that both psychedelic experiences and nature contact reduce rumination and negative emotions while enhancing psychological connectedness, mindfulness, and transcendent experiences²². This heightened ecological awareness could serve as a crucial counterbalance to the potentially abstracting effects of AI and digital technologies. 

Providing a Spiritual Container

By providing a space for individuals to grapple with existential questions and connect with something greater than themselves, psychedelics could help imbue our lives with a renewed sense of meaning and purpose in the face of radical change. Griffiths et al. found that psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experiences were associated with increases in personal meaning and spiritual significance, where effects persisted long after the experience²³.

The spiritual dimensions of psychedelic experiences, characterized by feelings of awe and reverence, could serve as a powerful counterbalance to the potentially dehumanizing effects of advanced technologies. Hartogsohn argues that psychedelics can serve as a "technology of the sacred," helping to re-enchant the world in the face of technological rationalization²⁴. 

By fostering a deeper appreciation for the mysteries of consciousness and the ineffable qualities of the human experience and nature, psychedelics could help ensure that our approach to technological development remains grounded in a sense of spiritual humility and reverence for life.

Enhancing Group Decision-Making and Leadership

In early human societies, leaders and shamans used psychedelics in collective rituals to gain insights and make important decisions for their communities¹,²⁵. Today, these substances could enhance leadership capabilities that are crucial for the AI transition.

By facilitating hyper-associative thinking, psychedelics enable leaders to make unconventional connections and conceptual links²⁶,²⁷, vital for reimagining our systems and addressing unprecedented challenges. Their ability to dissolve ego boundaries promotes leadership styles based on collective wellbeing rather than individual power²⁸. This transformative perspective can discourage the accumulation of power or gains from advanced AI that would lead to inhumane consequences.

Potential Issues and Considerations

While the potential benefits of psychedelics as a social technology are significant, several important challenges must be addressed to ensure their responsible and constructive integration into society. 

Public and Establishment Backlash

Psychedelics as tools for societal adaptation may face resistance from the public, established institutions, and power structures. Historically, psychedelics have been stigmatized due to associations with countercultural movements and concerns over misuse. 

However, in our current environment, things are different. The counterculture of the 1960s threatened the status quo largely through cultural and political rebellion. Today, it's AI and other advanced technologies that are threats to the established order. Governments and institutions will be forced to manage this disruptive transition. In this context, there is an opportunity to reframe psychedelics as potential allies in managing societal disruption, rather than the cause of the disruption.

Physiological and Psychological Safety

Contemporary research indicates that, under appropriate conditions, the medical risks associated with psychedelics are often minimal. Comprehensive reviews show that many persistent negative perceptions of psychological risks are unsupported by current scientific evidence²⁹,³⁰. The majority of reported adverse effects were not observed in controlled settings, suggesting that risks are significantly reduced when proper protocols are followed. 

The stigmatization of psychedelics since the 1960s has significantly influenced public perception, often overshadowing scientific findings. To mitigate this, it is crucial to fund and highlight research on the safety profile of psychedelics and promote safeguards for their use.

Abuse, Manipulation, and Increased Suggestibility

One significant concern is the potential for abuse of the increased suggestibility that can accompany psychedelic experiences. Psychedelics have been shown to heighten openness and suggestibility, which, while beneficial in therapeutic settings, can make individuals more vulnerable to undue influence³¹. This heightened suggestibility raises the risk of manipulation by unscrupulous individuals or groups, potentially leading to psychological harm or exploitation.

Throughout history, there have been instances where charismatic leaders have used altered states of consciousness to exert control over followers³². Without proper safeguards, the resurgence of psychedelic use could inadvertently facilitate similar dynamics. To mitigate the risks, it is crucial to establish ethical guidelines, provide education and training for practitioners, implement oversight, and promote transparency. Regulatory frameworks should oversee both clinical and communal use, and open dialogue within communities can foster accountability and safety.

Individualistic Pigeonholeing

There is a risk that psychedelics will be pigeonholed into narrow roles, such as solely for individual therapy and growth, which could limit their broader social potential. Such individualistic framing overlooks the communal use of psychedelics. To avoid this, we need to cultivate a cultural narrative that emphasizes the collective potential of psychedelics. 

Highlighting their historical use in communal rituals and their capacity to enhance social connectedness and collaboration can broaden public perception. Encouraging group-based applications, such as community rituals or collaborative creativity sessions, can showcase their societal value. A powerful example comes from recent research on ayahuasca ceremonies with Palestinians and Israelis, which revealed how psychedelics can dissolve cultural barriers, foster mutual understanding, and transform conflict-related trauma into opportunities for collective healing³³.

Lack of Scalable Models 

Existing models for psychedelic use, such as Indigenous healing ceremonies or clinical therapy, may not be scalable or fully appropriate for addressing the widespread societal adaptation needed in the face of the AI era. Developing new frameworks that can be scaled responsibly is essential. 

Moving Forward

Collaborative Efforts and Framework Development

To harness the potential of psychedelics responsibly, we must focus on developing safe and effective frameworks for their use. Existing models provide valuable insights. Clinical therapy settings offer controlled environments prioritizing safety and professionalism, while indigenous ceremonial practices highlight the importance of community and spirituality. By synthesizing these approaches, we can create hybrid models that leverage tradition while embracing scientific rigor³⁴. 

Continued clinical research is essential to understand optimal dosing, administration protocols, and long-term effects. Establishing training and programs for facilitators can ensure that individuals receive proper guidance, minimizing the risks of misuse. Legal frameworks should evolve to allow regulated use under specific conditions, learning from jurisdictions that have begun to decriminalize or medicalize psychedelics.

Overcoming public and institutional skepticism is also crucial. This can be achieved by emphasizing evidence-based approaches focusing on safety, structure, and differentiation from past unregulated use. Engaging respected institutions, thought leaders and public figures into public discourse can build credibility, helping to reframe psychedelics as valuable tools for societal well-being rather than as illicit substances.

A New Chapter

As we stand at the threshold of a new era, we have an opportunity to evolve—not just technologically, but also, spiritually and socially. Psychedelics, substances intertwined with human history and cultural evolution, offer potent tools to enhance our adaptability, deepen our connections, and rekindle a sense of meaning. Thoughtfully and responsibly integrated, these ancient allies could help us navigate the complexities of the transition ahead, emerging as a wiser, more compassionate, and united humanity.

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