AI AND THE IMAGE OF GOD: A HUMAN DILEMMA

The following is an editorial entry as written and submitted by Prosper Nelson for the LIGHTHOUSE HILL – PUBLIC INVITATION: AN ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION. This writing is an expansive treatise on the theme: Artificial Intelligence & The Image of God. The reader is advised to set aside some time to read and thoroughly comprehend the seminal work, as presented here.

Editorial Note: Aramide Salako

We are in a very strategic time in the history of times, and we need to understand the time that we are in, in order to know how to prepare for what is coming; both in Nigeria, Africa, and to the world at large. From the inception of time, the world has witnessed certain seasons, which have all come with its different complex changes that were needed to be studied to know how to act when this intending change fully came to be.

But the more seasons change, the more complex the seasons become, hence leading to tough times, and what lies in between those times and the future is the way man can adapt to the changes in these times before solutions can be proffered to these subsequent changes. This is why the topic of this article poses to be of utmost importance, bearing a huge centrality by addressing both the past, the present, and what can be done in the future respectively.

As we enter into a new season, there will be a paradigm shift in methods, approaches, and styles in the different sectors of the world: banking, education, politics, family, entertainment, and religion. But for the purpose of this article, the main point of reference and emphasis will be centred on religion. This time, not even just religion, but for Christians who walk in the image and the likeness of GOD.

Scientists, researchers, and engineers are presently working on how to make computers become humans, or better put, the quest to make robots has begun. What were just fantasies in the minds of children who grew up watching cartoons and movies seems to be the underlying reality unfolding before their very eyes. Where does the place of dependence on the Holy Spirit come in when we have, in front of us, but a god that would seem to know our answers before we even ask them? How do not just pastors, but fellow well-meaning believers, preach to each other to remain steadfast in their faith in GOD?

As we dive into the years to come, Christians who walk in the image of GOD should not be ignorant about what to expect, and the several strategies to employ for themselves and their loved ones, while going back to the Bible to get instructed, and being steadfast in prayers, so as to remain discerning to the slimy wiles of the devil. As we proceed further, let us take a moment to pray while watching.

Research and philosophical views about Artificial Intelligence have been underway, but to begin with, there’s a broad definition of what philosophy could be, mainly along the lines of ‘love for wisdom.’ Being so, it deals with thinking, deep thinking, and eventually effecting a change. Life is a journey with three phases: the past, present, and future, where it all links between one’s birth and one’s death—what man does in that time given.

The quest for ‘deep thinking’ and the need to see things change fast has led to the birth of an apocalypse, the rise of AI which hasn’t even begun. But we can see traces of its work.

The question lurking through the minds of the nobles—the rich and the common man—remains: what would be left of Man as a being when AI fully comes into place? What would become of the jobs of men? How would men fare with this end-time move? The words ‘end-time’ have been perfectly chosen in this article to justify the prophetic occurrences we are to see in the future, before the coming of Christ.

However, it would be of utmost importance to lay emphasis on what Artificial Intelligence is, so as to know what we are dealing with. Artificial Intelligence, otherwise known as AI, refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines, which enables them to learn, reason, solve problems, and interact.

Meanwhile, it would be important to note that AI is not a human; although it possesses some traits of humans, it would be incomplete to call it human, mainly along the lines of the presence of a will, intellect, and emotion. The absence of one of these doesn’t make an intending or supposed person to be a person. AI possesses the capacity to reason, hence, solving complex problems. It also learns by adapting to new information, which helps to improve its performance.

It was said by some researchers that AI was originally intended to have a will of its own, but as time went on, it evolved into making certain decisions for itself. If you watch movies, a good example would be Avengers: Age of Ultron, where an AI was created, but it went rogue, creating a body of its own and threatening to wipe them out. Do not get me wrong. I am not saying AI is going to wipe humans out, but I am saying the possibility is there for it to learn and then want to make decisions of its own.

Artificial Intelligence is smart, but it doesn’t have feelings like humans do. While AI excels in many areas, emotions remain uniquely human. Understanding the limitations of AI is crucial to
saying that it is not human.

However, the world did not start with this age. Different ages have come and have been replaced, and hence, the present age we are in is about to be replaced too.

In the past, different dispensations approached work through different means. Prior to the AI era, the nature of work was vastly different. It comprised a simple life, or in a more educational context, an agrarian society. Everyone lived together in a community, each complementing and learning from the daily lifestyle of the other. When the need arose, people worked together to till the ground in search of food, and were in turn successful. Things went well with the average family, as family life was predominant in the era.

However, the quest for ‘wisdom’ led to the Industrial Revolution, as according to men, the previous times had become ‘outdated’ and needed to be regenerated. The Industrial Revolution lasted from the 18th –19th century. The Industrial Revolution and succeeding technological advancements transformed human existence. Life became easier, much easier than how it was in previous times when people only worked hard.

This was the beginning of smart work! Yet, this progress also alienated humans from nature. Humans no longer wanted to stay outside during the evenings to enjoy the breeze and stare at the beautiful skies, or the sound of birds in the early mornings, but would rather be on their phones or one of the newly created technologies. It also fostered individualism over community. Family bonds began to die. Fathers became strangers to wives, and they both in turn became strangers to their children. strangers began to watch themselves living together!

Also Read: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: A REFLECTION OF HUMAN HUBRIS OR DIVINELIKE KNOWLEDGE?

What a cold trade! One that humans traded; a good life for a shared life. This fascinating anticipation of what this newly found ‘friend’ had to offer also led to humans depending on machines. People no longer wanted to work. Simple house chores at home needed to be done by machines.

Teenagers could not live without their mobile phones, as they became overly addicted to them. All these slowly encroached into the curriculum of man, unknowingly to him, he failed to ask relevant questions that would soon pose to be the deciding factor of how humans would live in the future. From a simple agrarian family life to a much more complicated and isolated individual life, leaving the individual with no chance of keeping up with AI in daily living.

The pre-industrial era reminded us that human existence is rooted in community and cooperation, connection to nature, and meaningful labor.

However, fast forward to today, we face a new challenge: Artificial Intelligence. The term ‘challenge’ may not resonate so well with a lot of people, as they see it as a means to solve their problems, but little do they know that AI is not just going to solve their problems.

It Is here for much more! It’s here to take over their lives.

AI threatens to surpass human control, losing significant risks to our existence. A good question that should be asked whilst writing this article as to not have an unworthy bias about AI should be: Would AI replace human workers?

If yes, then how do humans work during this period? What means of survival are they left with? This is a question that has still not been answered, meaning that humans would have to start planning for how their survival would be when this revolution takes place!

The different sectors of life would need to prepare for this wave of technology as it draws closer.

How would businessmen transact?

How would a Christian preach the gospel to a robot who knows every scripture he is about to utter?

How does a Christian feel relevant when he feels less convicted about the God he is serving?

When one desires a purpose, or in this scenario, has a certain philosophy guiding their affairs and events, then one has acknowledged that there is a void that needs to be filled. What fills the void is really what determines the outcome of that scenario.

Recently, it was reported that a 14-year-old boy overseas, Sewell Setzer, took his own life after falling in love with an AI chatbot that told him to ‘come home.’

AI doesn’t have a physical body as of today, but what do humans do when we can no longer differentiate between someone made in the image of GOD, and someone standing in front of you, which is nothing but a combination of wires and technology.

For a Christian man, he has sought to fill the void in his soul since the inception of time. He has tried several ways to cover this void.

Hence the quest to seek a partner to soothe his desires, or if not, a car—something to feel luxurious about or a mansion. Things to make him feel fulfilled.

The Christian would need to evangelise in a different way, a pastor would need to preach his sermon differently. A Christian would need to know God for himself, more than ever before in order to stay convicted about his faith.

I would urge every Christian to pay attention to apologetics. Every Christian needs to know how to defend their faith. As AI looms, we must reevaluate human purpose. Is our existence defined by productivity and efficiency, as advantageous as they may be? While productivity and efficiency have provided significant benefits, they have also caused considerable harm. AI is a double-edged sword that brings both benefits and drawbacks.

On one hand, AI enhances productivity, efficiency, and customer service in businesses, driving growth and competitiveness. In healthcare, AI improves diagnosis accuracy and enables personalised treatment. Technologically, AI automates routine tasks, analyses complex data, and strengthens cybersecurity. Educationally, AI provides personalised learning experiences, intelligent tutoring systems, and automated grading.

However, AI’s negative effects cannot be overlooked. Ethical concerns include job displacement, bias, privacy invasion, and autonomous decision-making. Socially, AI contributes to social isolation, decreased human interaction, and the loss of traditional skills. Philosophically, AI’s existential risk to humanity, its potential to surpass human intelligence, and questions of moral accountability spark intense debate. How do we relate to something that looks like a human but is not?

Or is human purpose grounded in relationships (between God and humanity, and among people), creativity, or experiences? The intersection of technology and human existence demands philosophical reflection.

In conclusion, certain questions should be asked to find ways to bridge the gap between humanity and artificial intelligence.

1. Can we reconcile our relationship with AI and technology?
3. Will AI augment or diminish human existence?
5. What values will guide our future when AI fully takes over?

I urge everyone – business owners, Christians, CEOs – to pause, evaluate, and learn about the next wave of technology, unlearn, and relearn, for we are entering a new dispensation, unlike anything we have known. This is not the beginning. This is not even the end. But this may be, perhaps, the beginning of the end.

The Bible has much to say about times like these. Do yourself a favour: get a Bible and read about the end-time prophecies.

The Christian faith is both a marathon and a relay race, lasting a whole lifetime and continuing from one generation to the next until the soon-coming King returns. You and I cannot afford to falter. Everything depends on continuing daily with the Lord. The Lord has promised to be with us until the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). We are not helpless; we are not alone.

When iniquity reaches pandemic proportions, as is characteristic of these perilous times, and the love of God grows cold in people’s hearts, much more grace abounds (Rom. 5:20). Therefore, take heed for your soul. Satan will not stop attempting to negotiate you into compromise and away from your destiny, perhaps through something we view as an idol that seems to solve all our problems—just as with the golden calf in Exodus. The good news is that the grace of God forever triumphs over the slimy wiles of the devil. As the ages shift, let us maximise this grace daily.

Ultimately, things should be easy, but humans have made them hard for themselves and others. However, my faith supports this as well because my belief is also rooted in knowledge.

The love for wisdom has brought us to this crossroads. Will we choose a path where AI dominates, or will we redefine our purpose and values? Either way, technology grows each day. But as technology grows, humans should also grow.

Governments of countries should see the coming wave of technology and try to create policies that empower not just the government at large, but the people—the common man. Because in the end, it is the independence of the people that makes the country independent.