The AI Revolution and the Return to Purpose

As AI races ahead at breakneck speed, leaving us mere mortals way behind the curve, it forces a moment of deep introspection.

One of its most profound impacts will be the global disruption of traditional jobs, forcing us all to rethink what we do—and how we do it.

An even more significant consequence of the AI revolution will be the newfound freedom in how we live and work. Tasks that once consumed our time - both at home and in the workplace - are increasingly handled by seamlessly integrated apps, freeing us from the mundane.

Is freedom always a good thing?

Well, that depends. 

As the Jewish people emerged, two defining events served as bookends to their formation:

First, the Exodus from Egypt—commemorated for millennia as the Festival of Freedom.

Second, the Revelation at Mount Sinai—where they were entrusted with a timeless value system.

Freedom without responsibility leads to chaos - like a game of football without rules, or a society without laws.

But in the realm of metaphysics, it goes even deeper: Freedom is not just about choice; it’s the opportunity to fulfill the purpose for which you were created. Purpose is the responsibility that transforms freedom into its highest, most authentic expression.

To internalize this apparent dichotomy, one must adopt a gradual and consistent spiritual exercise, reflected in the 49 days of counting the Omer, a journey that bridges Passover (freedom) to Shavuot (purpose).

The key word is “counting.” To count is to act with intention - to transform the ordinary into something special. 

The word “sefirah” (as in Sefirat HaOmer) also means to shine. When we imbue our days with purpose, we make them radiate. By adding positive value to the lives of others, we bring light into the world - and in doing so, we ourselves shine, as we fulfill the purpose for which we were created.

Counted hours become counted days. Small, intentional deeds build into powerful forces for good - creating momentum that carries us forward.

By counting each hour and day, we create a framework for accounting - an honest self-assessment of what we’ve accomplished versus the opportunities we have missed. This reflection becomes the engine of growth, helping us fuse the gap between freedom and responsibility.

As Viktor Frankl wisely said, “Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth… its positive aspect is responsibleness.”

True freedom isn’t the absence of constraint, but the presence of purpose - and the willingness to live up to it.

Based on the Rebbe’s teaching in Hayom Yom for the first day of Iyar - my father’s birthday, OBM.