God, Humanity and Artificial Intelligence

Many of us will have had conversations with bots which are indistinguishable from conversations between human beings. AI can offer reflections which contain accurate information, good sense; even wisdom.

Last week the King made a keynote speech at a conference considering artificial intelligence. The conference organisers must have been delighted with its timing after a week of apocalyptic headlines warning of computer systems going rogue and AI setting itself up in opposition to human beings. Just a few years ago this would all have seemed like science fiction. Now the headlines seem all too credible, and the King warned the (mostly) tech audience that “The task before you is not merely to advance technology, but to ensure that it remains firmly in the service of humanity, community and the natural world.”

The King is surely right in the objectives he suggests. Humanity must not be dominated by AI, our communities must not be splintered by AI and data centres must not gobble up the water and energy which human beings need. These are the existential problems which politicians and the tech industry must grapple with fast. But what about faith? Well, I suggest that faith communities, especially Christians, have many questions to ponder too. In this fast-moving environment, here are just a few questions for us to think about:

• If AI can eventually replicate everything human, can it have a soul?

• AI can already write prayers which are indistinguishable from human prayers. Should they be used (a) for personal prayer and (b) for public worship?



• Should I be using AI systems liberally, sparingly, or not at all?

The relationship between God and individuals is central to the divine purpose and perhaps some AI questions are answered by that word relationship. The writer of Psalm 139 would surely have thought so:

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

  you discern my thoughts from far away.

You search out my path and my lying down,

  and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,

  O Lord, you know it completely.

You hem me in, behind and before,

  and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

  it is so high that I cannot attain it.

For it was you who formed my inward parts;

  you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

  Wonderful are your works;

that I know very well.

~Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-14