There has been an ongoing commentary about the functions and power of Artificial Intelligence. “Artificial intelligence was founded as an academic discipline in 1956. …… Funding and interest vastly increased after 2012 when deep learning outperformed previous AI techniques. This growth accelerated further after 2017 with the transformer architecture, and by the early 2020s hundreds of billions of dollars were being invested in AI (known as the “AI Boom”). The widespread use of AI in the 21st century exposed several unintended consequences and harms in the present and raised concerns about its risks and the long-term effects in the future, prompting discussions about regulatory policies to ensure the safety and benefits of the technology.” {Wikiapedia, the free encyclopedia}
In the 2020s, as mentioned above, AI has moved faster than many had anticipated. Even the proponents of AI have expressed some reservation (fears) about AI being uncontrolled, unregulated, and taking over human’s positions in ways never anticipated. They first point to its uses in repetitive service functions, thus replacing many lower paying service positions. Consequently eliminating many jobs and putting people our of work. But over all, whether service jobs or higher level positions, there is the specter of a vast change in life throughout society.
An article published on the Charles Colson Center’s BreakPoint internet site noted how AI is making its presence felt in grade schools. Students who have an assignment to write an essay on a given topic have access to AI to produce the essay for them. Teachers, in turn, are seeking better AI tools to detect when a student’s work has not been their own but produced by AI. The student may manage a good grade if not detected, but have gained nothing in knowledge of the subject, grammar, or good composition. They have instead learned how to get by with the least work, manipulate a system, and lie their way to success whenever necessary. Hardly positive human characteristics!
Others have pointed out that AI is not smarter than we are. That human intelligence is not like a computer. It is unique. AI imitates and extrapolates existing information. It cannot create. The human mind is unlike anything the world can produce. There are many things still unexplained about the human mind, including the concept of the human soul.
Recently Oprah Winfrey presented an interview program on the subject of AI and both the positive and negative effects it is likely to bring. Her guests were industry leaders who are at the forefront of AI’s development. They acknowledged the vast changes it will being about in society, but felt that its benefits would ultimately be of great benefit for mankind. Particularly that people would gain more free time to pursue other and more pleasant endeavors. I’ll have more to say about this in another Observation shortly.
The last interviewee on the Oprah Winfrey program was Marilynne Robinson an American novelist and essayist. In 2016 Dr. Robinson was named in Time magazine’s list of 100 most influential people. She retired 2016 from the faculty of the University of Iowa, and has been a visiting professor lecturing at numerous colleges since retirement.
Robinson is a Christian. Through her writing she has probed many parts of the nature of human beings. I call attention to her Winfrey interview because of one comment she made which has motivated this particular Observation. In response to the question of the negative effects of Artificial Intelligence she said, “We are not enough in love with our own existence”. Think about that for a moment…. being in love with our existence.
One could take that in the sense of an inflated ego, very pridefully lifting up one’s own accomplishments. I don’t believe that that is what she intended. Rather, from a Christian point of view, it would be a glorification of Almighty God who created us. Looking at Psalm 8:
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
(verses 4 to 6 NKJV)
Our existence is due to the Almighty God who created us. Loving our existence means standing in awe of the workmanship of our Creator. We’ve been examining that workmanship for 6000 years. Even today with our advances in science and medicine there is much that we do not yet understand about the marvels of our mind and body. To love our existence is to humbly love and worship the One who has put us here and “put all things under our feet.” This above all should temper our view of our own accomplishments and put the use of Artificial Intelligence in its proper sphere.
Unfortunately it will not do so! Fallen mankind and nations will continue to push the envelope. Whether for competition, profit, or national dominance AI will very likely be developed to a detrimental point for us all. While at the same time many continue to cheer it on as a great boon for mankind. Beyond this is the science of quantum computing which is a whole other area declared to change the fabric of mankind. But that is another story for another time.
All of this (and more) is why I’ve said that we, as Christian believers committed to our Lord Jesus Christ, are in a very serious spiritual warfare today. Satan is using every tool possible to turn our hearts away from our Lord. The Prophet Isaiah wrote of Lucifer, the fallen Archangel, “For you have said in your heart, ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’” (Is.14:13-14 NKJV)
I will have more to say about this spiritual warfare at another time, but for now there are a couple of things I want to leave with you. First, while we are in a warfare, the devil cannot win! He is not above our Lord. While he can do much damage he will be defeated and cringe before the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Second, think about your existence. Meditate on Psalm 8 and the other marvelous passages that exalt our Lord and Saviour, and all that He has given us, done in us, and provided around us. Learn to love Him even more deeply. That love extends to your own being, and from there to your neighbor.
God’s abundant grace continue to uphold you my dear friend.
Pastor Irv