In a small town on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Eva Lindholm starts her day without an alarm. She makes coffee by hand, writes in a journal, and takes her dog for a walk—without earbuds, screens, or social media. But by mid-morning, she's on her laptop, using ChatGPT to help plan her eco-commune's grant application and AI-powered Notion tools to manage volunteers' tasks.
Eva is a slow-living advocate—but one who isn't afraid of artificial intelligence.
“The key,” she says, “is letting tech serve your rhythm—not the other way around.”
In an era where speed is currency, slow living—the conscious choice to live more intentionally, quietly, and simply—is a quiet rebellion. But as AI accelerates automation, decision-making, and even creativity, some ask:
Can slow living survive in a world built to move faster than thought?
The Slow Living Movement, Explained
Slow living is more than a trend. It’s a philosophy: doing less, but better. It emerged in the 1980s as a response to fast food and later fast fashion, and now encompasses every facet of life—from slow travel to slow tech.
It champions quality over quantity, process over output, and being over doing.
“It’s about aligning life with your values, rather than reacting to every ping and push notification,” says Dr. Rina Matsuoka, a cultural anthropologist at Kyoto University.
The challenge in 2025? AI doesn’t just speed things up—it anticipates our needs, answers our questions, and suggests our next move before we’ve made a decision.
AI: Enemy or Ally of Mindful Living?
At first glance, AI seems the antithesis of slow living. It’s the force behind the infinite scroll, the always-on email assistant, the 10-second grocery delivery. But advocates argue that, used mindfully, AI can actually enable a slower lifestyle.
Consider:
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AI-powered calendars that auto-prioritize only essential meetings.
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Virtual assistants that automate administrative clutter.
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Generative AI that simplifies travel planning for restorative vacations.
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Smart home systems that support energy efficiency and quiet routines.
“AI, when integrated intentionally, can remove noise,” says Dr. Linda Schwartz, a digital wellbeing researcher at MIT. “It allows us to reserve energy for what truly matters.”
The Risk of Over-Optimization
But there’s a catch. In trying to optimize life with AI, we may inadvertently kill its texture.
A sourdough loaf made with love and a Spotify-curated playlist generated in seconds are different kinds of experiences. One roots us in time and effort. The other floats above it.
“Slow living values presence, process, imperfection,” says Matsuoka. “AI flattens complexity into efficiency. Not everything should be frictionless.”
There’s also the temptation of digital dependency. Relying on AI to choose meals, books, or even partners may save time—but it may also rob us of the spontaneous discovery that nourishes soul and identity.
Slow Tech: The Middle Path
Some technologists are responding with “slow tech”—a design ethos that values privacy, longevity, and depth over virality.
Startups are now creating:
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Distraction-free writing apps with no recommendations or metrics.
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Minimalist phones with only essential features.
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AI wellness companions that prompt meditation or silence, rather than dopamine hits.
It’s a paradox: using cutting-edge tools to create ancient states of mind.
Choosing the Human Pace
Ultimately, AI isn’t a threat to slow living—our habits are. The challenge lies in resisting the culture of urgency that machines enable.
Eva, the Copenhagen commune manager, puts it best:
“I use AI to give me more time for the garden. For tea with friends. For staring out the window. That’s the goal, right?”
Final Thought: Tech for Stillness
In the age of artificial intelligence, choosing slowness is an act of rebellion—and a return to humanity. The question is not whether AI fits into slow living. It’s whether we have the courage to decide how we live, before the machines do it for us.
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