Vicodin or Vitamin?
Rethinking the Role of Tech in Learning and Life
Dear Readers,
If this post resonates, please click the ♥️ or share it. It helps others find me.
*this post was inspired, reviewed, and uplifted by Michelle Culver.
“We are changing the world with technology.” Bill Gates
“Technology alone is not enough.” Steve Jobs
Last fall, I had the opportunity to join a gathering hosted by Michelle Culver, the founder of the RITHM project, which seeks to empower young people to rebuild and evolve human connection in the age of AI.. She brought together a group of people who had read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt—not necessarily to dissect the book itself, but to create a space where people could share thoughts and exchange ideas.1
The conversation was rich and wide-ranging, touching on the mental health challenges facing young people, the pressures of social media, and the tension between connection and isolation in a tech-driven world.
After the event, Michelle and I were debriefing, future planning, reflecting on the themes that had emerged. That’s when Michelle offered a metaphor in the form of a question that immediately clicked, “Is AI acting as Vicodin or a vitamin?”
It was one of those lightbulb moments where a complex idea suddenly makes sense. Technology (in particular AI), she suggested, can either function as a quick, temporary fix (like Vicodin) or as a long-term support that builds strength over time (like a vitamin).
That simple yet powerful framework helped clarify why the tech debate so often feels stuck, at least for me. 👇