What are the ethical issues surrounding AI and how should Christians be responding to AI

Artificial Intelligence or AI, has been around for a very long time and has been integrated into our daily lives without most people realising that it is AI, things for example like chatbots that most companies use on their websites to interact with customers in real-time, to chatbots on WhatsApp that are created to receive and prompts and give a response.  AI has taken off, with Gen Z using AI at school, work and everything in between. With its rise, there is a concern that AI would impact jobs and robots would take over the whole world being the fear most people have about AI.  The Church on the other and Christians in particular are split, with some agreeing that AI would benefit the world and that technology advancements are a good thing, others are opposed because they believe that AI is the beginning of the end and is symbolic of the “Mark of the Beast,” while some like myself don’t know what to think and are left wondering where the world is going and whether we should embrace AI and integrate it to our daily lives.

Many Christians however, especially those opposed to AI don’t even realise that AI technology has already been integrated into our lives already, face recognition to unlock your phone is one example, Google Maps which has live traffic information has AI integrated into their system, the banking industry and cybersecurity rely on AI to keep your money safe from scammers, smart home technology, digital assistants like Siri and Alexa, social media recommendations and adverts are driven by AI, spam filters on your email, Netflix recommendations, the list is endless.  AI has become a part of our lives whether we want it or not, and many of us have seen the benefits of AI in our daily lives as well as in how we run our businesses. 

But the risk of emerging technology and the lack of regulation from many industries is concerning.  I asked ChatGPT this question: “Should Christians be afraid of AI?” and the response was one that clarified that AI does not give advice and does not have the answers to such questions. I was referred to information available on the internet regarding Christians perspectives towards AI, and one of the disclaimers upon even opening ChatGPT is that the system may occasionally generate incorrect information or misleading information, or even produce biased information and therefore is not intended to give advice.  It is quite clear that the creators of ChatGPT have indemnified themselves, but they often understand the human mind and that with human behaviour, people will often view what they read on the internet as truthful, and so statements like that do not guarantee that people will heed that advice.

On the subject of Christianity and the ethical issues surrounding AI, this is what ChatGPT had to say:

“It's essential to recognize that AI is a human-created technology and can reflect both the virtues and vices of its creators and users. As with any technology, it's crucial to approach AI with wisdom, ethical considerations, and an understanding of its potential impacts on individuals and society.

If you're concerned about the ethical implications of AI from a Christian perspective, it may be helpful to engage in thoughtful discussions, seek guidance from religious leaders, and remain informed about AI developments and their implications. Ultimately, being informed and having a clear understanding of one's own values and beliefs can help guide individuals in making informed decisions about their attitudes towards AI and its usage.” (ChatGPT, OpenAI)

I would not have said it better myself, AI is aware of its limitations. It is aware that human factors and the creators of these technologies may have specific agendas, and these may impact the specific AI system or program, and we need to be informed and aware of these. It is beneficial to have open discussion about where the line is and when things stop being black and white.  There are definitely grey areas within this emerging technology, like robotics, ChatGPT, moviebots, etc. and it is up to us and the relevant industries to do the work in making sure that they protect people and the technology by regulating these emerging technologies, thereby having a just transition into AI, which seems to be going nowhere despite many people’s concerns.