In Their Image - Part 2

"Doesn't anybody know how to turn off the program..?"

We all too easily cite ourselves as the only example of intelligent and spiritually aware entities in the universe. Now, leaving aside the possibility of extra-terrestrial intelligences and simply by looking at our own world, we cannot actually say either for definite. It is certainly true from a theological perspective that God has charged humanity with tasks, with responsibilities that are different to the creatures around us and he certainly seems to have a strong relationship with our species. But that is one thing, it is quite another to say no other species has or even can have relationship with the Creator. Our relationship is certainly unique, but not necessarily exclusive. The type of our relationship certainly seems defined by our mental and physical abilities which are suitable for it rather than any quality implanted by God other than the conscious call He makes on our lives.

Increasingly as we study the animal kingdom we find that all aspects of human intelligence and emotion that we would traditionally attribute solely tour own species are mirrored in many animal species. From a neurological perspective as well we humans share an immense commonality with our animal brethren in terms of brain structure and function. Given that consciousness and a sense of 'self' (including our spirituality, our sense of the Divine) appear to be rooted somehow in the physicality of the brain the possibility exists of other animals sharing at least some aspects of spirituality and that sense of the Divine. Certainly this should not surprise us when we think of the many Biblical passages describing God’s interest in the rest of creation and how the creation looks to Him for provision and to praise in their own ways.

In a similar manner to disregard the possibility of self/consciousness in a non-biological lifeform is equally biased towards biological lifeforms as that is our only experience of life thus far. Again, just because our example happens to be biologically based it doesn't mean that life can only be exclusively so. Biology may turn out to be the only way that life could naturally arise but now that it has (in the form of us) we can use technology to open out new possibilities for the physical material of the universe.

Although VB's post rightfully discusses the possible negative effects on humans I think it is also worth contemplating the other side of the equation. Not only is it an interesting exercise in theological thought as the example of the ChatBot shows the immediacy of serious discussion is also there. Not to do so runs the chance of discrimination against artificial intelligences in both our churches and wider society and also opens out the potential that we might unwittingly (or not) abuse (and enslave) a new form of life. That life could resent it and if spiritual, cry out for release to its Creator – beyond ourselves. Not exactly a good reflection on our species or a great example for others.

Does it really matter that we might get it wrong though? Am I not worrying over nothing? Surely it is just a machine? Maybe it is intelligent but not spiritual so does it really matter? Maybe it doesn’t, but if in terms of its own outward behaviour it is so 'human' that we cannot tell the difference and respond to it accordingly then we do have cause to urge caution.

There is perhaps a wider question in creating AI that we need to be asking before we put ourselves into this potential dilemma which ties back into VB’s original concerns.. Why are we creating AI? What do we want it to do for us? Is it just an experiment, a way to show to ourselves that we can? Or do we want it to flourish by itself and stand on its own feet (if it has any)? If we create it simply to serve and to make our lives easier, to remove ‘work’ from us do we lose something of ourselves in the process? For things like the ChatBots of today I don’t think this is necessarily such a strong question but if we create a true AI life form we better make damn sure we know why and understand the enormity of what we are doing.

In many ways it would be no different to creating a new child. A new independent life form which would need some form of nurturing, created in our image (and thus in the image of God) would be bought into the world. Having a child is a huge responsibility and privilege (hence why having a child is considered by many to be a gift from God) and an AI life form would be no different.

With such a gift are we selfish or honouring towards God?