27 Aug Christian Response to Artificial Intelligence

When the King of Babylon asked Daniel and his friends to practise Babylonian pagan traditions, they resisted and suggested an alternative. Similarly Christians should also have an alternative response to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Both are significant forces that cannot be ignored.

AI is deeply woven into the fabric of human conduct, more so than any other technology before it. From our Instagram feeds to the weather reports, we use AI all the time, whether we are aware of it or not. That’s why Christians, as good stewards ought to make sure this great technology is used for the good of society. So, what should we do?
Be curious on how AI is developing. Do everything you can to stay up to date on the latest developments in AI. Get excited about trying out new Generative AI models and see how you can use them in your daily work. This will help you get familiar with AI tools.

Be cautious as all technologies have their limitations and AI is no different. The most well-known anomalies of AI are AI bias and AI hallucination. When you are aware of the problems with AI, you can maintain a healthy dependency with AI tools. Additionally, your view of how oppressors might use AI as a weapon of oppression will be broadened by this.

Be concerned on the development of AI. To varying degrees, each of us are in a position of influence. You should always use AI tools to assist others whenever you utilize them. Pay attention to how your actions affect the poor and the marginalized, because not everyone has access to AI tools. Also, when you find malicious information generated by an AI model, please report it.

Keep in mind that everything good comes from God. But if they are not used for God’s glory, even good things can turn into idols.

Joseph Daniel Wilson is a PhD Research Scholar at Madras Christian College. His research focuses on AI, human biases, stereotypes, and society, with the goal of proposing frameworks for AI models.