I recently saw a diagram listing dozens of artificial intelligence (AI) agents. It looked like the multicolored Wheel of Fortune wheel. I knew there had to be more AIs than that, so I asked an AI application I use how many AI agents existed.
“Estimating the total number of AI agents is quite challenging due to rapid development and deployment,” its response began. “However, as of recent estimates, there could be millions of AI agents in operation worldwide.”
Chris Turner
Millions? That’s a big Wheel of Fortune diagram.
I plunged into AI more than a year ago, slowly at first but by last December AI became partners in my daily workflow. (I know what you’re thinking and no, AI did not write this column. It did edit it however).
Responses in conversations I’ve had about AI range from enthusiastic adopters to one person who told me AI is the tool of the antichrist. Most people seem cautious leaning toward concerned. “They are going to take over the world.” I’ve heard that a lot.
Maybe the specter of HAL 9000 lingers in the psyche of American culture 57 years after director Stanley Kubrick introduced HAL 9000 as a central character in his seminal 1968 sci-fi film, “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
In the movie, HAL 9000, a highly sophisticated AI, becomes concerned about the flight crew’s intention to shut “him” down so kills crew members to prevent being deactivated. Astronaut Dave Bowman eventually outsmarts and disconnects HAL to ultimately survive.
HAL’s erratic behavior is a key theme of the film as Kubrick explores the dangers of relying too heavily on technology and the consequences of creating an intelligence that surpasses human understanding.
The movie sparked discussions then that haven’t stopped about the potential of AI and the associated ethical challenges.
The tension is taught between AI development and the ethical considerations of AI use. The global race to dominate AI development far exceeds the pace of the space or nuclear arms races between the United States and the Soviet Union.
The belief is that if rogue actors dominate development, they can influence AI learning which potentially impacts surveillance and privacy protections, causes economic disruption, breaches national and corporate security, manipulates public opinion and significantly aids in criminal enterprise. All of that is possible.
But there is another side of AI that improves work efficiency, assists as a healthcare diagnostic tool, analyzes business data for improved decisions and strategy, creates personalized learning opportunities for people who struggle with standardized learning models, and improves response times during crises.
Churches can benefit from AI too in areas like sermon prep, worship planning, spiritual development, administrative tasks, member engagement, developing promotional materials, resource management and more. The positive possibilities are endless.
And this is exactly why Christians must engage in both AI development and its use. AI learns from input information. Having a biblical worldview in the conversation helps ensure that the technology is developed with a balanced, ethical, and human-centered approach since AI has the potential to significantly shape various aspects of society.
Also, engaging with AI development allows Christians to help guide its alignment with values such as compassion, justice, and the protection of human dignity.
Christians can raise important ethical and moral questions, offer valuable insights into the broader implications of its use and address concerns related to privacy, fairness and the treatment of individuals.
By participating, Christians can also ensure that the AI technologies developed are used responsibly, contributing to a future where AI benefits all of society while minimizing harm.
The question is will we? Unfortunately, Christians are often slow to embrace emerging technologies, spending time debating the evils of mediums such as film, radio, television and the internet rather than how we can leverage the mediums for Kingdom purposes.
We can’t risk being slow on this one because unlike the others, AI will continue to evolve and develop. One author I read wrote, “The version of AI you are using today is the worst version of AI you will ever use.”
Yes, we should be concerned about the inadvertent disclosure of personal and proprietary information. Wading into the unknown demands wisdom and prudence so proceed with caution.
Actually read the use agreements, and if you aren’t comfortable, find another AI agent. Remember, there are millions.
Start with using your phone’s AI agent, Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant. I downloaded to my phone the free version of the ChatOn app. It has taken Google’s place as my search engine of choice. I’ve used it probably 11 times while writing this column to find or confirm information.
You don’t need to know how to use a million AI agents, you only need the ones that serve you personally and professionally. Stay at it. AI proficiency is a skill that develops with use.
However, a word of caution. You may want to steer clear of using any artificial intelligence named HAL. B&R
