God created mankind – Man is trying to Create AI
Another way man is trying to supersede God
The apostle Paul described human nature:
7 Because the carnal (literally – “meat”; figuratively “the natural human”) mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. Romans 8:7 (NKJV)
The Bible and history are filled with examples of human beings rebelling against God – often (in the Bible) after seeing miracles performed by God.
Yet somehow, we never learn!
Humanity is rushing headlong into the creation of “artificial intelligence”
The ultimate quest for artificial intelligence is the attempt to create a sentient being (a lifeform that is self-aware, able to sense other beings and communicate with them) that was not created by God (nature).
Though often presented as a strictly “scientific” endeavor. In truth, it is just another example of mankind trying to claim equality with God.
Definition:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a term for simulated intelligence in machines. These machines are programmed to “think” like a human and mimic the way a person acts. The ideal characteristic of artificial intelligence is its ability to rationalize and take actions that have the best chance of achieving a specific goal, although the term can be applied to any machine that exhibits traits associated with a human mind, such as learning and solving problems.
Artificial intelligence is based around the idea that human intelligence can be defined in such exact terms that a machine can mimic it. The goals of artificial intelligence include learning, reasoning and perception, and machines are wired using a cross-disciplinary approach based in mathematics, computer science, linguistics, psychology and more. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/artificial-intelligence-ai.asp#ixzz5YZH4Sw4C
As we discussed at length in the July 28th Newsletter The Automated Future, there are many ramifications associated with this development – some of them appear to be detrimental to our society and culture.
Among those potential developments are the sequestering of a significant percentage of the population being unable to find any employment at all – that is, they will have no way to “earn their living”.
My estimate of that percentage is some 45 percent. That population will include those who are quite willing to forego looking for such employment but are content to have nothing to which they would have to supply their skills and education – nothing that would be related to “earning a living”,
This means that government will have to redistribute the wealth of the nation to provide at least a sustenance amount for food, clothing and shelter.
Money will be no problem. With automation of production of goods and services, those to whom the redistribution is made will be consider consumers. Including trade between nations, the amount of national wealth will likely continue to increase by an amount that will at least compensate for any increase in population.
For the average consumer, life may be pretty good. Since I’m no prophet who can see the future, I really have no idea how this is going to affect the lives of our children and grandchildren but I do see occasional articles in the media where there is discussion of these effects.
For now, from the viewpoint of this essay, the future will take care of itself.
We can get at least a idea of what the future will hold by looking at how mankind has developed over the millennia. The pace of development has increased exponentially over the past 200 years going from “horse and buggy” to considering landing men on Mars.
Yet human nature has never changed. Some portion of human-kind remains the same self-centered, power-seeking, greedy, violent and vindictive people that have existed throughout the existence of mankind.
Perhaps the parallels between man’s attempt to create AI and God’s creation of mankind will demonstrate this point.
God is preparing His creation for the future
The purpose of humanity is to create children for God – for us to become actual members of the “God family”. Furthermore, He planned our future from the very beginning.
“How”, you may ask, “is God going about that creation? What conditions, what environment, what stipulations has God placed on this laboratory – our world that God created – that would lead to the conversion of our human nature into the nature of God so that we can become part of His family?”
The parameters God uses to prepare His creation for the future
Ø Free will.
Individually, each person must choose whether to change his or her nature. To grow spiritually we must eliminate or change the parts of our nature that cause us to do evil – when “evil” is defined as anything that prevents us from developing the nature of God.
God could have created us without flaws. Some assert that the first humans God created did not have flaws – thus the “Garden of Eve” allegory: man and woman in a “garden” filled with beauty and supplying all of our needs – paradise.
However, with free will, that man and woman chose to do evil – to disobey a direct commandment not to “eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.
Each of us will experience “tests” – decisions in which we know which choice follows God’s laws and his ways. Sometime these choices are “active” (we have to do or say something); others are “passive” (we don’t have to do or say anything – we can continue as we are).
Ø A desire to learn and grow
One of those “free will” choices is whether to learn right from wrong.
God gives each us a sense of curiosity and an innate sense of right and wrong. As a growing child explores the world around them, the child can also explore the world of morals and standards to learn to distinguish right from wrong.
A major tool in learning right from wrong is to choose a “source of authority” on which we can depend for learning and guidance. We can experiment with that “source” and observe and analyze whether it is credible and reliable.
The best source with the most information on how to live our lives is the Bible. One might consider the Bible to be a “handbook” with instructions on how to live the most successful and meaningful life. Coupled with the instruction of a loving mother and father, one can develop a good base of standards to evaluate those choices.
Ø A continuing series of tests
God sees that our lives and relationships with others provide the appropriate tests for the state of our development. As we grow, the tests become more difficult; these tests confront us throughout our lives.
God promises us that we will be able to handle the tests that confront us:
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV84)
Ø A promise of reward for our struggles
“The road is long with many a winding turn” wrote Bob Russell and Bobby Scott in the song, “He Ain’t Heavy – He’s My Brother” (sung by Neil Diamond).
Those of us who believe in God and His Son Jesus have God as our Father and that Son as our “brother”. We find that their spirit will help us through the rough times if we allow that spirit to dwell within us and if we trust in Him.
Not only that, but God also gives us the promise of eternal life when this life is over.
Not because any of us would be such “good people” as to deserve that reward but because if we strive to become what God made us capable of becoming – strive to learn His laws and His ways – He will “count that faith as righteousness”. (To be “righteous” in God’s eyes is to be in full and complete compliance with His laws.)
When Abraham believed God would truly give him more descendants than the stars in the sky and the land from Egypt to the Euphrates River (thought Abraham was 90 years old and had no children):
6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
As King David wrote in Psalm 32:1,2
7 “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
So we have a God who understands our weakness and flaws and forgives our mistakes; a God Who gives us training during our mortal lives and then will reward us with eternal life and welcome us as His immortal children to be with Him forever.
There could be no greater reward and incentive to follow the path containing His training and assistance.
Mankind is also preparing his creation (AI) for its future
This passage is from The Future of Life Institute:
From SIRI to self-driving cars, artificial intelligence (AI) is progressing rapidly. While science fiction often portrays AI as robots with human-like characteristics, AI can encompass anything from Google’s search algorithms to IBM’s Watson to autonomous weapons.
Artificial intelligence today is properly known as narrow AI (or weak AI), in that it is designed to perform a narrow task (e.g. only facial recognition or only internet searches or only driving a car). However, the long-term goal of many researchers is to create general AI (AGI or strong AI). While narrow AI may outperform humans at whatever its specific task is, like playing chess or solving equations, AGI would outperform humans at nearly every cognitive task.
Ø The prime concern of many is reaching an AI “singularity”
In terms of AI, a singularity would occur if computer programs became so advanced that artificial intelligence transcends human intelligence. At the time this essay was written, most credible scientists in the AI field suggest we are at least 10 years and perhaps 50 years from programming an AI to be equal to humans in intelligence.
In the singularity, the “strong” AGI programs would become so intelligent, they could program themselves far outpacing the ability of human programmers to understand their functioning.
And that superseding AGI would be just getting started!
They would reach a state of existence so far above humans we would have no control over them whatsoever. As their intelligence continued to grow, the AGI would be able to control humanity.
If you’ve had any concern about hostile robots taking over or harming humans, realize that you’re on the wrong level of concern.
All the AGI needs is an Internet connection and soon – with their vastly greater intelligence – they could control all wealth, all means of production (including power generation and communication) and by using the wealth to “bribe” humans (we know some – perhaps many – would be susceptible), anything they wanted could be obtained.
A runaway singularity would essentially become a “god” and – human nature being what it is – I’m sure the AGI would soon have “priests” and worshippers.
Ø The second most prevalent concern is giving AI control over weapons
It is easy to imagine what horrors could occur if automated weapons fell into the hands of a person who wanted to rule the whole world.
If the AI is competent to reproduce itself in copies of these weapons and the would be world ruler surrounds himself with programmers willing to control and assist the automated weapons, no one and no army could stand against the mechanical, AI controlled army.
I’m sure you’ve noted the media stories of the “drones” used to take out troublesome leaders of other cultures (for the moment). Just imagine a time when those machines could more or less control themselves only needing the occasional direction of programmers.
A “new world order” indeed!
Ø Will AI merge with humanity?
There are a significant number of scientists and inventors working on ways to merge the automation and AI with the human body. This has great promise for good but also a strong possibility for evil.
The good aspects have to do with relieving human suffering – replacing arms, legs and other body parts with machine technology that can duplicate or even enhance their functions.
Relieving humanity of the need for brutal and/or dangerous chores would be a boon; having intelligent helpers for household chores and the activities of daily living would benefit the handicapped and elderly.
We already can – with increasing success – replace a human heart. Other body organs are in the sights of some very intelligent and resourceful scientists, technicians and inventors.
The potentially bad aspects have to do with direct connections to a person’s brain and central nervous system. While this has some promise for good, a number of people are working desperately to find a way to move the consciousness of an individual into a computer matrix essentially giving the person immortality.
There are some very wealthy people, scared of dying, supplying funding for this research and I’m quite sure that some will soon make this attempt as they near death.
An individual consists of three parts – body, mind and spirit (the essence of life – the force that caused Adam to “become a living soul” in the story of creation).
7 the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 (NIV84)
It is conceivable that science will be able to construct a mechanism that could replace a person’s body; if the computer matrix is intricate enough and the AI sophisticated enough, it might be considered a “mind”.
However, in spite of every conceivable experiment to create “life” in the laboratory, I see no way that life/spirit/soul could be imbued unless God intervened and breathed the breath of life into that machine.
The great controversy (among those who don’t believe in God) is whether there really is a “spirit” (or “soul” in today’s parlance). ¹
Ø What happens to society and cultural with automation and AI?
Will we develop new jobs to replace those eliminated with automation and AI; will we learn to like or love a jobless society where everyone enjoys a life of leisure and machine-produced wealth; will we control the machines or will the machines control us?
Results from the two types of “creation”
Ø God’s Creation
God’s creation (mankind) has been provided a living laboratory in which to develop into what God man capable of becoming. Those who ultimately reject God even after learning the truly of the matter will be destroyed; those who strive to reach the unreachable goal of perfection will be rewarded with eternal life in the presence of our Creator, our God
Ø Man’s Creation
Many good things could happen as a result of AI and automation – many good things already have occurred. These good things are a further result of those striving to do things to make life better and thus fit nicely with God’s plan for mankind. He wants us to be free of pain and suffering and to enjoy the benefits of our hard work.
9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun— all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Ecclesiastes 9:9–10 (NIV84)
However, if mankind insists on rebelling against God and trying to create life and manufacture immortality, very little good will ever come from that and the possibility of great evil if much more likely.
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. Psalm 53:1 (NIV84)
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:18–20 (NIV84)
I may not be around to see how this works out but I pray for my children and grandchildren and their offspring and ask God to show them His truth and protect them from the evils that arise from our sinful natures.
1
In the original languages (Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek), the word “soul” is the combination of body, mind and spirit. Animals are “living souls”.
