Seeking True Intelligence

Tonight is a real topic to ponder. What are Christians to do with Artificial Intelligence (AI)? On the one hand, it is almost impossible to avoid it since it will become more and more part of the makeup of our culture. It is not just confined to computers or phones either. It is getting harder and harder to differentiate between a real video and one that's been doctored. They can add and remove things from a picture, and even change the face on any person in the picture and so much more. They can change the background or where the photo appears to be taken. They already have self-driving cars, appliances that can function without supervision, assembly lines, robots, and even AI that can write term papers, songs, contracts, and speeches. It seems impossible to avoid. To me, the danger is not in the ability to create and assist, but our dependence on them... and the misuse of the technology. I had been contemplating this concept for a while and have written a little about it but was reminded again by a video that I saw. It was a gentleman that was going to use Artificial Intelligence to write a daily devotion to send to people. I ran into the same thing with sermons. A company offers to have AI write sermons for me on any particular topic or passage. My response is the same as the gentleman writing devotions... it can only mimic what it has been given. It has no soul, no ability to be led by the Spirit, no conscience, and no faith. There are people that can appear to be good on the outside while they rot spiritually on the inside. The danger of not having the Spirit lead us is that, though it may sound very good and comforting, it lacks true faith. This also raises a point... will God guide His people and the AI so that many might come to faith? God can do this, but it seems His normal pattern is to work through people that are fully submitted to Him. Now, understand any moral, spiritual, or intellectual leaning is only as good as the person who creates it. How conservative or liberal will it be? How spiritual or humanistic will it be? All this is determined by the programmer. The more we rely on these technologies, the less room we will leave for God to lead our life. Don’t even get me started on having a friend that are AI run. Father, more and more the world is thinking and doing everything for us. Keep us faithful and strong in Your word and in You. Amen