ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE IMAGE OF GOD: A TREATISE

Imago Dei, a Latin term which stands for “the image of God”; is a firm belief in the Christendom that man is created in God’s image and likeness and is a reflector of His glory on earth. This is proven in the Bible from Genesis 1: 26-27 where it states that man is the only creation of God which reflects Him in totality, and that knowledge of God opens man up to the understanding of who He is. Through this knowledge, man is capable of maintaining intimacy and oneness with God and in the place of fellowship; creativity, wisdom, and a lot of man’s hidden capacities and abilities are revealed to him because it is only through knowledge of God that we gain understanding of who we are, what we have and what we have been called to do here on earth.

AI, which stands for Artificial Intelligence, is a modern, scientific, technological development
and advancement put forward by man to simulate human intelligence into machines or robots to enable them to perform tasks associated with intelligent beings and their reasoning capacities in more complex ways. Through this development, these systems are capable of carrying out diverse human characteristics, intellectual activities, and even physical tasks in more complicated cases such as the ability to reason, discover meaning, proffer solutions to problems, medical analysis and diagnosis, detection of fraud and many more activities associated with the day-to-day running of man.

It is important to note and apply that while AI is encompassed with diverse intelligence and
abilities, it cannot replace the unique nature of man as being the only and direct reflector of
God’s image. Understanding God’s powerful and inexhaustible capabilities helps us realize and settle with the knowledge that God’s nature, might, strengths, and fullness are incomparable to the things that AI has done, can do, and will ever do. This realization will emphasize on God having the upper hand on the use of AI and the discovery of God’s nature and abilities in man.

Genesis 1: 26-27 earlier mentioned, that the nature of man bearing God’s image and nature
doesn’t lie in the knowledge alone; it also comes with a lot of responsibilities that God expects
from us and that the world should receive from us. Establishing that the nature, capacity, ability,
and responsibility of God in all measure supersedes AI and its potential, being reflectors of
God’s image invariably hands down to us the responsibilities that we are to fulfil on earth.
These responsibilities, just like God’s go far beyond the invention and advent of Artificial
Intelligence; rather it is a call to discover what is embedded inside of us and to make maximum
use of this discovery.

The advent of AI in human development and technological advancement typically describes the reflection of man’s intelligence and creativity, both of which are the representation and attributes of God and His image. AI no doubt, is a great tool for innovation, problem-solving, and
advancement and in itself possesses a great potential for improving human living and advancing the world at large. Having this understanding of the great potential that AI possesses will settle in us the realization and acceptance of what man is capable of doing and that which he is yet to bring to light.

As reflectors of God’s image, God demands and expects from us that we show forth His glory
which lies his wisdom, power, ideas, creativity, and much more we can open up and access
through fellowship and intimacy. The introduction and implementation of AI in human living
proves to be one evident way by which man is discovering and bringing to light all of God’s
nature inside of us; it is also a call to exhibit greater intent in the call to discovery and
illuminating; rather than putting total reliance and dependence on AI which is just a tiny bit of
what man can do and is yet to discover of himself.

The purpose of this writing is not to downplay the role of AI in human living and development
but rather a call to greater discovery and realization of much more that we have inside of us,
which cannot be compared to the ability of AI.

In the journey of discovering man’s potential and bringing it to light; distinguishing Al from
God’s image is very necessary. This will help to draw a line from what we can create to who we
truly are. The bid for man to create his image is one reason for the development of AI but this
creation proved to be unsuccessful in one major area: incorporating a soul and spirit. The major
attribute that characterizes us as images of God is the possession of a soul and a spirit. The
existence of AI as images of man also lacks in the area of free will and choices. AI operates
based on programmed algorithms and lacks the capacity for decision-making, unlike man whose living centers on the decisions and choices we make.

The invention of AI lacking these major aspects in its creative process proves how much God still oversees all and he is in no need to create or use man to create another creation in His image. Every creation of man comes from the wisdom of God and he decides to release or limit whatever measure of wisdom He gives. The knowledge of this distinction of who the man is to what he has or can create helps us to know that whatever knowledge, idea, creativity, or intellect he thinks he operates on is the wisdom that God’s mercy releases to us and to remain in humility and total subjection to His will, voice, and commands if there must be continuity in accessing His wisdom. This knowledge also helps to reaffirm in us God’s intent and purpose for us is to bear His image and carry out all the responsibilities associated with this nature; the advent of AI no matter how advanced, cannot replace or replicate this identity.

READ MORE – PUBLIC INVITATION: AN ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION

The role of AI in human living highly reflects man’s creativity, intelligence, and high thinking
capacity. This is because of the ability to create complex systems with high human reasoning,
intellect, and logic which cannot be easily accessed and produced by other of God’s creations.
This shows God purposely designed in man the ability to produce systems that will help advance and ease His living and state of well-being according to Genesis 1:28. AI goes far beyond problem-solving skills, it plays a great role in advancing medicine and communication;
discovery in many fields of study, learning, and other ways discovery is yet to be revealed.

It has been debated how the perfection of AI superseded that of human’s capacities and abilities and this has led to total dependence and reliance on AI; causing man to limit his nature, suppress and halt discovery on himself, and exalt his creation over God’s. To dissolve this debate and the belief that has stemmed from this heresy, we would consider some major limitations of AI in living in God’s image and likeness on earth.

Unlike humans, Artificial Intelligence lacks morality and conscience. It cannot exhibit human emotions that come as a result of the absence of a soul and spirit. AI cannot empathize and sympathize and cannot discern right from wrong which are products of our wills and choices and the consciousness of the life of Christ above all programmed realities of living. AI also lacks the ability of relationality which serves as a bedrock of our Christian living and exhibition of love as a first demand and command to us from God. AI in itself also depends on human input. The
release of solutions or the exhibition of problem-solving skills is dependent on algorithms and
data inputted by humans. It cannot exhibit dependent creativity and values that man naturally
reflects. All of these limitations and more show how much AI is a creative tool to serve
humanity and not God and it can never be a replacement for man nor can its believed perfection skill measure up to God’s nature in man and his divine purpose.

Having understood that AI does not and can never replace or replicate the divine nature of God
in man, we must reflect on the unique nature of Imago Dei and all that his nature entails.
Despite the advancement of AI, man’s unique nature of bearing God’s nature and reflecting His
image cannot be contended, replaced, or replicated. Man remains in the position of advancing
God’s glory on earth; hence it is required that man draws into God for intimacy and constant
communication because it is only in the place of fellowship that there is a revelation of who we are and how to go about in reflecting, and as reflectors of God’s glory. AI, as impressive a creation as it is cannot embody the spiritual and moral qualities that God has placed in man. It is in this quality that the inherent nature of man is brought to light and the duty of reflection becomes fulfilled. Humans also bear in ourselves total acknowledgement and sovereignty to God, obedience to His Word, and containing His Spirit in us, unlike AI which strives to maintain
ethical standards and has no belief in God as this belief does not correlate to data and algorithms or even the physical understanding of man.

The future of man lies not only in advancing scientific and technological developments but rather in the discovery and realization of God’s nature in ourselves. One of the ways of discovering and realizing our nature in Christ is through maintaining our Christian standards and beliefs without allowing the advances of technology and its products to prevent or steal away the knowledge of God and our relationship with Him. We maintain this standard by constant humility, communion, fellowship, obedience, and intimacy with God.

Another way of taking up the responsibility of our divine nature and purpose is to maintain our
dignity without compromise, especially in this age of massive technological advancement and
enforcement. This dignity is not one put forward by societal norms and standards but one gotten from total obedience and adherence to all of God’s Word. One of the many reasons why it seems that AI and technological tools have the upper hand in determining human living or have the tendency to exhibit greater perfection than humans is that we allow these gadgets and tools to set and determine the standard of our living. When we allow these man-made tools lacking knowledge to set the standard on how living should be done or distinguishing between right and wrong, then we are a few steps away from deviating from the original design and purpose of man as bearers of God’s nature and glory. Hence, we maintain our dignity and stand in this age by allowing God and His Word to wholly set the standard for our living. In doing so, we are constantly reminded of who we are and what we are called to do here on earth.

This writing has outlined man as God’s image and all that bearing this nature and image has
called us to do. It has also explored the advent of AI, its positive impact on man and His living
and how it is a great product of man’s creativity and intellect which directly reflects God’s nature of wisdom in us. We also discussed how AI and other technological products have taken the upper hand in dictating and determining how a man should live rather than man living up to his nature of Imago Dei. We also established that the advent of AI is not a limitation or encouragement for man to fall short of his calling as bearers of God’s image and as children of light.

In conclusion; the call to a life of prosperity and good living begins with a call to man’s
discovery of all he truly is and what God has placed individually in us. It is a call to depend on
what we have in God and not what we have in ourselves. This is the foundation of discovering,
realizing and actualizing God’s nature in us. We are God’s image not by what we have in us; but by having God in us.

Prevail Chibueze.