27 Aug Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) replace Original Intelligence (OI) ?

An ICEU Leader said to the EU Cell Graduate mentor “Sir, I take the help of the ChatGPT for my Quiet Time as well as my Personal Bible Study. I use Wikipedia to learn about a few biblical incidents”. The EU Cell Graduate mentor was shocked to hear this new concept from an ICEU Leader. I invite you to pause for a moment and and ask yourself, “Where are we heading as a student movement?”

The use of AI has become inevitable for the present generation. Artificial intelligence is ruling the day and AI Tools are the source of many learners’ assignments and projects. Even the servants of God are tempted to use AI to get a few inputs through AI.

In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. The earth was without form, and it was void. Deep inside there was darkness. The LORD said, “Let there be light”. He never went for anything artificial. Our God is a God of originality, and He made the man original, the garden original and there was no copying or manipulation.

Anything artificial is only manmade. Cloning, Genetically Engineered Microbes (GEM), and Living Modified Organisms (LMO) are the manipulations of God’s design. Anthropogenic inventions and products like plastics and polythene were thought to revolutionize human life. Now scientists are struggling to find a solution to remove microplastics from our drinking water. Microplastics have become an integral part of our human blood crossing the placenta, and are found in embryos, fetuses, and wombs.

The God of the Bible created everything good and beautiful, but humans corrupted themselves and turned those good things into evil. Men invented evil ways and manipulative ways. Human’s pursuit to have more and more gives way to substituting AI-integrated machines in place of Original Intelligence (OI).

An AI “Chess Genius” program that has all the possible 10 million chess moves was once accepted undefeatable by the world as it defeated the world champion Kasparov. To prove that AI can never replace OI, the Indian chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand challenged these impossible-to-win AI-based parallelly linked supercomputers. He shocked the world by defeating it easily, shattering the laurels and beliefs of elite scientists and pridefully boasting computer companies.

In UESI we practice and profess sola scriptura, a Latin phrase that means “scripture alone” (Bible alone) is the standard of truth for any person living on this earth and Scriptures are our final authority. No one is allowed to add or delete anything from it. The Bible gives a command, “Do not be deceived” but many times we take it as a suggestion in the Bible (1 Cor. 6:9; Gal. 6:7; James 1:16). “Intelligence with God” is what the Bible calls, foolishness of God which is better than the best intelligence of man. God has chosen the foolish to confront the wise.

Anything that comes from God is unique and there is no manipulation, repetition, or copying. A few instances are worth mentioning. God told Joseph to run to keep his chastity and holiness. He never asked Joseph to negotiate. Man’s intelligence sees that as an opportunity, but God’s intelligence (OI), used it to demonstrate the power of holiness to a heathen powerful woman. AI may present you with another option that suits the taste buds of the carnal minds. Never again was such an incident repeated in the Bible. David was asked to carry stones to defeat a mighty Goliath, who came with the latest weapons of his time. Never again in history, have we seen God instructing someone to use stones to defeat an enemy. Moses was asked to lift the rod towards God, Gideon a pot and lamp, and Ehud a dagger. We don’t see any of these repeated because God never takes them from the freezer or refrigerator.

Anything that comes from God is oven-fresh, enriching the soul. AI may enrich the mind and may weaken the soul. The children of God were asked to get the manna every morning. It was not from any baker; it was from the Maker of heaven and earth. AI can bake a ready-made meal for us, but it cannot substitute ‘the manna’ that comes from our Maker. He is the source of OI. And seeking HIS face in the morning makes us shine. The God Who created light can make us a light to many who are dependent on AI and bring them to be dependent on God. So let us follow OI.

Dr. Anand Prem Rajan, is a Professor at Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India. He can be reached at ananddonkeyofjesus@gmail.com

Dr. Jose Swaminathan, is a Professor at Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India. He can be reached at sjose1947@gmail.com