Dear parents and carers,
Recently, I had the opportunity of attending a Christian Education National (CEN) Senior Executive Conference in Hobart. The first keynote speaker was Stephen Driscoll, a theologian who is very adept in the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and has just published a book Made in Our Image: God, artificial intelligence and you. His keynote asserted that we need to approach artificial intelligence through our human nature. He pointed out that AI is a form of emulation of the human brain, trained more than coded, in fact trained by making predictions and then adjusting connections. It is a general-purpose technology which seeks to make all intelligence and knowledge available. In that respect it is expected to eclipse humans. However, the idea that is can be deeply relational as a friend or therapist is illusory, as is the idea that it can offer purpose.
AI is the opposite of God
Stephen Driscoll pointed out that as humans we are made of dust, but we also have the breath of life. Computers do not have these attributes. AI is the opposite of God; it is material, not spiritual. It is not conscious. It is simply a tool, not a person and not actually a friend. The advent of AI, he pointed out, opens up the question, “who are you?” In terms of what Stephen Driscoll called ‘teleology’ he argued that our morality is based on what God made us to be, that is, embodied, gendered and time phased. Our ethical duty therefore is to find God’s purpose and live it out. Our identity is given by God. None of these concepts exist in the nature of AI. The keynote speaker went on to say that efficiency is not God’s goal for humankind. Conversely, AI offers a seductive vision of heaven.
The broken promises made by AI
Artificial intelligence has emerged in a society where 44% of young people, according to the latest research, are persistently sad or hopeless despite the comforts and entertainment readily available.
