SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The steady advance and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to completely upend societal norms in a myriad of ways. But while most thought pieces focus on the disruption taking place in vocational contexts, the rise of AI will also prompt the most proactive question of all: What exactly does it mean to have a human perspective?
According to D. L. Moody Center (moodycenter.org) President Dr. James Spencer, “AI seems to be inevitable. As such, there is a need for Christians to understand this new technology and to develop theological frameworks for its use in Christian settings.”
In a recent article for Christianity.com, renowned theologian, author and D. L. Moody Center President Dr. James Spencer encourages Christians to ask four crucial questions about what AI means for their faith.
First: Does it really matter that AI will have a different perspective on the world than humans?
Spencer commented, “Embodiment is one of the primary reasons that AI will never think exactly like humans. An AI-powered robot won’t have the same needs as we do, feel the same fears or take pleasure in the same experiences. As such, they will remain artificial.”
Next, Spencer says, we should ask, how will AI impact how we understand the world?
Spencer said, “AI is a lever, a button or a spell. It allows us to ‘manipulate’ the world in ways we previously could not. However, such manipulations do not necessarily reflect an understanding of the world’s most fundamental dynamic: human dependence on and allegiance to the Triune God.”
Moreso, Spencer says, how will AI affect how we perceive the world?
Spencer shared, “AI will allow us to speed up our lives and our work. It will allow us to ‘outsource’ some of our cognitive load. Yet, AI can’t free us from reality. AI is no threat to God’s sovereignty (or even his omniscience). It doesn’t make God superfluous or challenge God’s order. Yet even though our understanding of God, ourselves, others and the world remains stable, AI certainly has the potential to alter the way we perceive reality and, as such, the way we end up living in the world.”
Finally, Spencer dives into, how could AI influence our perception of the world.
Spencer noted, “First, AI can change perception through information bias. It doesn’t matter how ‘smart’ an AI gets. It will always have ‘bias’ simply because it cannot communicate exhaustively and must choose what information is most relevant to a given situation.
“Second, while selection is an inherent bias, there is also the problem of deep fakes and the dissemination of false information that, for all intents and purposes, seems true. There is a real danger (driven by a combination of technology and bad actors) that we will be incapable of distinguishing fiction from non-fiction in certain situations.
“Finally, the existence of AI can change the way we perceive reality. Whereas the previous points focus on the information AI provides, this one focuses on AI itself. Its very presence in the world can change the way we perceive reality and interact within the world.”
Spencer summarized, “AI has the potential to arrange human activity in ways other technologies don’t. AI seems to be getting to the point that it will be able to do pretty much anything a human could do in a fraction of the time. The trouble is that our inefficiencies are often necessary to form and shape us in important ways. Efficiency, then, can hold us back as it pushes us forward, because it reduces the sort of struggles that can lead to an enduring sense of contentment and meaning. As such, Christians need to think about how AI is changing the way we understand the world.”
Dr. James Spencer is a theologian and Christian leader who seeks to help believers think Christianly about the social, cultural, and political assumptions of today’s modern world. Tune in to James Spencer’s daily podcast “Thinking Christian” for daily conversations with guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. He also co-hosts a weekly radio program “Useful to God”.
James Spencer currently serves as President of the D. L. Moody Center, an independent non-profit organization dedicated to introducing people to the life and faith of Dwight Moody. He also has several courses and other resources available at Useful to God. He earned his Ph.D. in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
In addition to being a regular contributor to christianity.com and washingtontimes.com, Spencer has published multiple works, including his newest book titled “Serpents and Doves: Christian, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness” available on amazon.com, Christian Resistance: Learning to Defy the World and Follow Christ, Useful to God: Eight Lessons from the Life of D. L. Moody, Thinking Christian: Essays on Testimony, Accountability, and the Christian Mind, and Trajectories: A Gospel-Centered Introduction to Old Testament Theology,
Spencer’s desire is to see Christians test God by trusting God so that they conform ever more closely to the image of Christ. He believes discipleship will open up opportunities beyond anything God’s people could accomplish through their own wit and wisdom.
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