What is AI (Artificial Intelligence)? One has said, “At its core, AI refers to the development of intelligent machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. It fuels our smartphones, empowers our smart home devices, enables autonomous vehicles, and even guides strategic financial choices.” There are various types of AI, but all types can be distinguished as WEAK AI or STRONG AI. WEAK AI operates within a limited context and is a simulation of human intelligence applied to a narrow-defined problem. It focuses on performing a single task. Examples of this include Siri, Alexa, and other smart assistants, self-driving cars, and Google search. STRONG AI, also known as ‘artificial general intelligence,’ is a machine that can solve problems it has never been trained to work on, like a human can. This type of AI does not actually exist yet, but AI researchers are trying to create these machines. Today some researchers are expressing concerns and advocate limited research due to the potential risks of a powerful AI without appropriate guardrails.

Today’s AI machines have definite benefits. Take Google voice assistant and AI chatbots (such as ChatGPT) for example. There is a wealth of information available at lightning-fast speed, information that would take countless hours to acquire before AI was developed. But that information is still based on human input; in other words, you will get responses that are the result of machine-learning algorithms which were created by those who built the machine. This can have a definite negative effect if the programmer’s information (i.e. data) is wrong or biased. To illustrate, I asked ChatGPT to give me a summary of Romans chapter seven in the Bible. In short, the summary stated that the Law (the Ten Commandments) was given to teach men that they are lost sinners who are condemned before God. This is “partially right,” for the Apostle Paul does describe how the Law convicted him of sin (in verses 7-12) and taught him his need of a savior. But in verses 13-25 Paul speaks of his experience AFTER he was saved and how he was trying to please God by keeping the Law as a rule of life. Paul had to learn that the believer is unable to gain the victory over “his sinful nature” by focusing on the Law. Thus, this chapter also applies to the believer in Christ. So, as helpful as ChatGPT may be at times, in some cases it is misleading and provides erroneous data based on the input that was programmed into the algorithm.

I cannot speak specifically as to “making descriptions of products in a business” with AI. I am especially concerned about the threats that AI poses to the believer in Christ in learning and applying THE TRUTH of God’s Word. As noted above, AI was unable to give me a TRUE SUMMARY of Romans chapter seven. In this case “the truth becomes relative” based on the beliefs and bias of the programmer. Jesus said in John 8:31-32, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know THE TRUTH, and THE TRUTH shall make you free.” Later, in John 16:13, Jesus said, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH.” In 1st Corinthians 2:9-12 we read, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us THROUGH HIS SPIRIT. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of man which is in him? Even so no one knows that things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know that the things that have been freely given to us by God.” The Holy Spirit is the believer’s TEACHER when it comes to understanding the Word of God. We should not be trusting in AI for this, but humbly submit to the Holy Spirit who desires to teach us THE TRUTH so that we can live lives that are pleasing to God and brings glory to Him. Regarding “the devil and AI,” I have no doubt that Satan would love to lead us astray through AI. We must be diligent students of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15) and depend solely on the “Spirit of truth” to guide us into all the truth of God’s Word.  (DO)  (616.1)