[New podcast episode today! – Link below]
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers… what is man that you are mindful of him…” (Psalm 8:3-4)
Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence (“A.I.”). It’s already a part of our lives more than we realize.
Recently, I interviewed C.R. Wiley. His new book is called: “Manmade: St. Anthony’s Guide to Surviving the A.I. Apocalypse.” I’m happy to say that the interview has now been released! You can watch it on YouTube or listen to it on my podcast. For those of you who are interested, the links are below.
We discuss the true nature of A.I. This is an important point because most people are somewhat naïve about this technology and don’t realize what it is, especially if their only exposure has been through the evening news, clever phone apps, or chatbots.
We also talk about what may be on the horizon—moving from ‘narrow A.I.’ to ‘general A.I.,’ the prospect of transhumanism, growing surveillance, how A.I. is starting to “think” for itself, and possible advances in the medical sciences.
But there are very practical dimensions to all of this that we need to keep in mind as people of faith.
For example, we can’t let our children be the guinea pigs. We already did that with social media and they are paying the price.
Further, we discuss the hidden cost of the digital world, the importance of detaching from computers and the internet, self-control as a spiritual discipline, evil and the necessity of discerning spirits, and the difference between using technology and being used by it.
We close our conversation by speaking about Saint Anthony, a fourth century monk who continues to speak wisdom into our lives today.
As you navigate the rapidly changing landscape that is modern life, let me encourage you in what Wiley calls “the preferential option for the physical.”
Will we use technology? Yes. But we need to stay grounded in the physical world God made. Human relationships need to remain a priority. We need to feel the evening breeze on our faces. We need to learn life-skills and not become too dependent on machines. As Wiley says, we need to stay human.
Let’s be discerning, not deceived.
Let’s be smart, not sloppy.
Let’s be stewards, not slaves.
Let’s be image-bearers of God, not blobs on the couch who lose even the capacity to tie our own shoes.
In short, let’s stay robustly human for the glory of God.
Notes:
–“Surviving the A.I. Apocalypse with C.R. Wiley.” Watch on YouTube here, or listen on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.). You can also find it on MatthewRuttan.com.
-Bible quotes, ESV.
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