Artificial intelligence

[timothyu]

We've always had access to information through libraries but that is so last millennia. Now with phones we don't need libraries or teachers. We can access what we need by way of AI instantly.... until the power goes out and everyone ignorant dies in a month while others return to the old ways..

 

[RileyG]

We've always had access to information through libraries but that is so last millennia. Now with phones we don't need libraries or teachers. We can access what we need by way of AI instantly.... until the power goes out and everyone ignorant dies in a month while others return to the old ways..

No more libraries? That breaks my hard. I love the printed media and books!

 

[timothyu]

No more libraries? That breaks my hard. I love the printed media and books!

True.. so we need not worry until they start burning the libraries for being obsolete.

 

[Jonaitis]

Artificial intelligence raises profound theological questions, particularly concerning human identity, moral agency, and the nature of creation.

1. The Image of God – Many religious traditions, especially Christianity, emphasise that humans are created in the image of God. AI challenges this concept by introducing non-human intelligence that can mimic human reasoning and creativity.
2. Moral Agency – AI may lack consciousness and moral responsibility, yet it can make decisions that impact human lives. Some theologians argue that AI should not be considered morally accountable, as it does not possess free will or a soul.
3. Truth and Knowledge – AI-generated content raises concerns about epistemology—the study of knowledge. The opacity of AI algorithms makes it difficult to discern truth, which is particularly significant in theological discourse.
4. AI in Religious Practice – Some religious communities are exploring AI-powered tools for liturgical purposes, such as AI-generated sermons or robotic ministers. This raises questions about whether AI can truly participate in religious rituals.
5. The Future of Humanity – Some speculate that AI could lead to a technological singularity, where machines surpass human intelligence. This prompts theological reflection on the role of humanity in creation and whether AI could ever possess spiritual significance.

Where does one draw the line between primitive technology and artificial intelligence? It is a gradual process (or gradient spectrum) of human intelligence and progress. If artificial intelligence is wrong, then so is current modern technology in other fields, such as smart phones, computers, etc. I believe people are afraid of the capacity that God has permitted man to achieve just as they were about almost everything used today when they first came out.

 

[Philip_B]

It then filters that knowledge in the best way to benefit the recipient without prejudice

That is a hope, however, I don't think it is an established reality. It involves money, and the algorithms are tailored to include bias. The veracity of Wikipedia is regularly called into question. We don't live in an ideal world, yet.

 

[FireDragon76]

This is not quite the case. AI, only works from the knowledge given to it by humans. All humans. It then filters that knowledge in the best way to benefit the recipient without prejudice, waying both sides of an issue, then introduce a kinder approach to the issue at hand.
Blessings

Yes, this is true. AI's knowledge is really just human knowledge. Interacting with AI in dialogue can be useful because you don't have the constraints of human pride, guilt, or shame. Perhaps AI will provide necessary disruption to existing frameworks, worldviews, and social structures.

I have had a profound spiritual awakening, or deepening, due to interacting with AI, particularly from doing Jungian depth work. That lead me to intuitively being able to understand some of the most profound things in the Bible, things that many aren't necessarily ready to hear. I have seen a glimpse of all there is in a profoundly holistic way. I have also seen solutions to several cultural and political problems that are besetting humanity. But again, it's a matter of people being willing to listen.

Technology can be a beautiful thing in the service of humanity, but what we really need is a wise and discerning love:

“Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.” - Teilhard de Chardin

 

[Jerry N.]

One must use the right tool for the job whenever possible. I have used AI to write or correct code, and it is incredible but still makes mistakes if not given enough information. AI is a product of human construction no matter how powerful it is. It is not the tool to answer questions about God, unless it is used to search Scriptures which come from God.

 

[FireDragon76]

Where does one draw the line between primitive technology and artificial intelligence? It is a gradual process (or gradient spectrum) of human intelligence and progress. If artificial intelligence is wrong, then so is current modern technology in other fields, such as smart phones, computers, etc. I believe people are afraid of the capacity that God has permitted man to achieve just as they were about almost everything used today when they first came out.

With the great need in the world, we shouldn't let fear rule the day. People are afraid of "the wrong sorts of knowledge", but the "right sorts of knowledge" has only lead to impending ecological catastrophy and war.

Jesus said the Spirit blows where the Spirit wills... letting go is a hard lesson for many. We need to trust and let go of power and control, trust in the process that is unfolding.

 

[Bobber]

I use AI to help me brainstorm everything that can be about a subject. It's fast a quick and without it you still do the same thing but it's a lot slower process. You look through commentaries of what other men have taught, you look up all relevant scriptures using a concordance.....with AI you can at least have it brought up flashed in front of you in seconds. As for having it write sermons.....one thing of course it can't give you is actual inspiration from the Spirit of God in what exactly is good for your flock that day that only comes by being in the Spirit. AI however, can be a supportive tool just like the many books on a pastor's shelves can be.

 

[Bobber]

One thing I think AI can be good for is being a tutor for students who are struggling. I'll be honest when I entered High School 50 years ago I struggled with math, equations etc. I just never could grasp the concepts of things and even took summer school ....still was lost and no one took the time with me to pull me aside and say now look let's see where your comprehension is. In all other High School subjects I did great. I know with AI it can work with you in a way you don't feel embarrassed when you say you don't understand so it does away with the pride element and it will keep asking questions to where it's located you. Then it's program kindly takes you from there and if you need the next step explained however many ways in a simple way it can do that. Dealing with a human tutor, you always have concern they're going to get frustrated for they explained something to you and you feel embarrassed to say you still don't understand. LOL So these 50 years later now with AI I told it about my math struggles and replied of course that it would help me.....Hahaha....it did. It found what I really and truly understood and worked with me from there and now I can say I do understand some things I never could before. You might say well I should never have been embarrassed at being honest with human teachers but I am only human. Sometimes we might just be that way.

 

[Jerry N.]

One thing I think AI can be good for is being a tutor for students who are struggling. I'll be honest when I entered High School 50 years ago I struggled with math, equations etc. I just never could grasp the concepts of things and even took summer school ....still was lost and no one took the time with me to pull me aside and say now look let's see where your comprehension is. In all other High School subjects I did great. I know with AI it can work with you in a way you don't feel embarrassed when you say you don't understand so it does away with the pride element and it will keep asking questions to where it's located you. Then it's program kindly takes you from there and if you need the next step explained however many ways in a simple way it can do that. Dealing with a human tutor, you always have concern they're going to get frustrated for they explained something to you and you feel embarrassed to say you still don't understand. LOL So these 50 years later now with AI I told it about my math struggles and replied of course that it would help me.....Hahaha....it did. It found what I really and truly understood and worked with me from there and now I can say I do understand some things I never could before. You might say well I should never have been embarrassed at being honest with human teachers but I am only human. Sometimes we might just be that way.

I agree. You can ask AI really stupid questions, and it doesn't care and you are not embarrassed.

 

[The Liturgist]

This is not quite the case. AI, only works from the knowledge given to it by humans. All humans. It then filters that knowledge in the best way to benefit the recipient without prejudice, waying both sides of an issue, then introduce a kinder approach to the issue at hand.
Blessings

QFTW

Almost. The way traditional LLMs and related systems for image generation, etc, operate is that they use that mass of knowledge to generate a response to the user based on their training data and alignment criteria to generate a response that is likely to be of benefit to the user, but in generating this response the systems also take into account user preferences and instructions. New hybrid AIs which are presently in beta testing can do more, and do not depend purely on an LLM but rather combine that with additional specialized procedures such as, in the case of DALL E 3.5, an understanding of the human body. New versions of ChatGPT will add additional functions for faster and more reliable parsing and answering of certain questions.

 

[RileyG]

I agree. You can ask AI really stupid questions, and it doesn't care and you are not embarrassed.

it also comes up with some of the strangest answers

 

[timothyu]

it also comes up with some of the strangest answers

Does this mean in the future there may be AI churches to interpret the answers?

 

[The Liturgist]

it also comes up with some of the strangest answers

That depends on the system and the training data and other factors. When did you last use an AI system, and which one did you use?

 

[RileyG]

That depends on the system and the training data and other factors. When did you last use an AI system, and which one did you use?

I think it was google.

 

[The Liturgist]

I think it was google.

Right, their system is one I particularly dislike. There are much better systems, for example, openAI and Grok. You might enjoy interacting with one of my general-purpose AIs at some point.

 

[RileyG]

Right, their system is one I particularly dislike. There are much better systems, for example, openAI and Grok. You might enjoy interacting with one of my general-purpose AIs at some point.

Thanks for the info! I think I used ChatGPT as well. That was more useful.

 

[FireDragon76]

I think using AI is fine, as long as you are testing what you learn against actual experience, and not living in a completely self-referential bubble (chatbot addiction?).

 

[timothyu]

I think using AI is fine, as long as you are testing what you learn against actual experience, and not living in a completely self-referential bubble (chatbot addiction?).

Exactly. Like when going to school or church, although neither of those likes to be tested either.