Churches are regularly faced with issues caused by technology that is unsuitable for vulnerable people, or even directly harmful to them. For example, children might be exposed to inappropriate images or cyber bullying. Adults are sometimes locked out of essential administrative systems for utility companies or government services because they lack confidence or expertise, or struggle to access IT hardware or the internet. The Church often helps by being aware of the issues and key resources, and being present to help provide technical support where we are able. But is there more to helping the technologically marginalised than this?
The two writers below examine Biblical principles that can help us see why we urgently need to address multiple issues relating to technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence, that affect people in our communities. They also look at why we can have hope in God to help us to do this.
Find out more about the Faraday Course: Technology for the Marginalised
Fallen
Patricia Shaw, Founder of Beyond Reach Consulting, Lawyer, AI and Data Ethics Consultant
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realised they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:6–8 (NIV)
AI systems are tools, and like any other tools humankind has crafted, they can work for or against us. AI tools created by organisations and governments will not be perfect, as we ourselves are imperfect fallen beings.
AI tools are powerful: the organisations behind them have the potential to know a lot about us, to be ubiquitous, as AIs are increasingly ‘present’ in multiple kinds of devices, and to make decisions about us or on our behalf. AI systems have been empowered by humans (and their data) to recommend, predict, select and decide. As access to these tools are not equitably distributed, they have the potential to divide humanity into ‘the haves’ and ‘the have nots’ digitally, socially, even politically, and physically. This means AI can discriminate based on existing human biases and further entrench existing systemic societal inequalities.
God’s position has not changed. God is still omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. So when God says, ‘Do not fear, for I am with you’ (Isaiah 41:10), ‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2) and ‘Seek justice. Defend the oppressed’ (Isaiah 1:17), he means it!
Father, help us to not fear AI or the power that it could wield. Give us your wisdom and discernment as to when, how and why we use AI tools. Use our ability to think critically and to challenge what we see, including decisions about people that are made autonomously or augmented using artificial intelligence. Amen.
Increasingly Human
Graham Budd, Executive Director, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from onedegree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:17–18 (NRSV)
AI is humanity’s most powerful tool, the first in history that seems able to make decisions and create new ideas by itself. The latest chatbots’ responses are so human-like, it is easy to feel confused about the nature of our relationship with AI. But while amazingly capable and clever, AI chatbots are really only simulating a human response, predicting the most probable next word based on having absorbed vast quantities of human writing and online content. AI is but a pale reflection of humanity whencompared against the eternal ‘glory of the Lord’ in whose image we are beautifully and wonderfully made.
Today’s passage reminds us of our freedom in Christ – freedom to be allowed into the presence of God and freedom to be transformed ever more deeply into his likeness by his Spirit. Unlike an AI, we have been given by God the ability to love, to enjoy deep relationship with him and our fellow humans, to be self-aware and to be able to contemplate our place in his universe. It is in relationship with God and our fellow humans that we find true meaning and value, not in pseudo-relationships with AI entities which reflect back our own desires and leave us open to manipulation.
It is important to be informed about AI, the great opportunities for society and the risks of harm, and to be comfortable to engage with technology as a tool to serve and help humanity. But we can also encourage one another that relationship fulfilment is found in our freedom to love and worship God, who knows and cares for us deeply, and in the gift of loving relationships with other humans made in his image.
Thank you, Lord, that I am intimately known and loved by you and am being continuously transformed into your likeness through the saving grace of Christ. Help me to engage with technology in a healthy way. Amen.