Intelligence & Faith Collide
The blessing and curse of artificial intelligence (AI) are yet to be discovered or revealed. In a quick review of history from the Stone Age to the Industrial Revolution, man has not always made the best choices in the development of civilization. The innovation of development brought us new discoveries yet has always included the underbelly of harm that came as the result of each new age.
Along the way of development of civilization, you have the intersection of faith and the influence of the church. It is no surprise that the American Pope, Leo, used his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas ("Magnificent Humanity"), on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence. It also articulated the church's position on a wide range of contemporary crises, including war, modern slavery, wealth inequality, the erosion of democracy, and the devaluing of human capacities.
His call to “disarm” AI sounds counterintuitive to those tech giants who opened the doors to this innovation, yet the Pope’s comments come with clarity. "To disarm does not mean rejecting technology, but preventing it from dominating humanity,” What is true is that our world governments are struggling to create clarity on the establishment of standards, rules, guidelines, and boundaries for AI. What’s also true is that with each passing day AI is advancing and innovating at a rate not expected and the longer we wait the harder task to control it is waning.
And when it comes to AI, faith, and the advancement of humanity, what is clear is that God, who sits outside time and space, is active, present, and still making Himself known to those seeking answers and assurance of eternal significance. From an intelligence standpoint, seek and you will find. Just ask, He is there.
