Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay. Whether you’re aware of it or not, artificial intelligence already plays an active role in your life. It keeps track of what you watch on streaming services and recommends shows you might like. It monitors your internet activities and suggests websites you could find helpful. Even if you watch network television and avoid social media, your bank, medical offices and insurance companies are probably using AI to manage your accounts. Your community likely relies on AI, to some degree, to keep the infrastructure running smoothly.
What is AI?
According to Aruna Pattam, an AI and Data Science expert, artificial intelligence is “the science of making machines that can think like humans. Artificial intelligence involves using computers to do things that traditionally require human intelligence.” It begins with making machines that can draw conclusions about what they should do based on past human activity. Rather than a programmer having to input every response to every specific situation, a programmer inputs data and potential responses, leaving the computer room to conclude how the tidbits of information are related. Alexa and Siri are commonly used AI tools that operate on this premise.
Is AI good or evil?
While the technological world has embraced AI, those who aren’t so technologically-minded have accepted it with mixed feelings. It bears a remarkable resemblance to George Orwell’s “Big Brother” in his novel, 1984 – always watching and listening. It can be disconcerting but, like I said earlier, it’s here to stay. There’s no going back. Whether that’s good or bad is a matter of perspective.
Like any other tool, AI itself is neither good nor evil. God created us in His image, with the intelligence and ingenuity to create things, as He did. Unlike God, we can’t create something from nothing. We can’t just speak things into existence. Wouldn’t that be handy at 5:00 on a weeknight when you don’t know what you’re going to make for supper? But we can create something from the myriad of resources God gave us to work with.
What we do with the things we create is what concerns our Heavenly Father. Knowledge and invention can be used for good, for evil or for both. Just as the printing press was used to put God’s Word in the hands of more people, AI could be used to put God’s Word in the hands of more people — translated into their own languages. AI has the potential to understand the nuances of languages, within their cultural contexts, and transform the Bible from something foreign to something familiar, more quickly than a team of devoted linguists could.
Sadly, AI can also be used as a tool for evil. It is already being used to mimic real people and deceive trusting souls. For instance, Séance AI can mimic the voices of deceased loved ones. It allows people to “converse” with someone they’ve lost. While those who are thinking clearly will recognize it as a high-tech parlor trick, it offers false hope and comfort to those who are grieving, and probably not thinking clearly.
Ask_Jesus
Perhaps the most disturbing thing to come out of this strange new world of technology is AI Jesus. Yes, you read that right. I was quite surprised when I first learned about it, too.
Powered by ChatGPT, The Singularity Group, based in Germany, created and launched their Ask_Jesus chatbot on Twitch in 2023. AI Jesus is handsome and rather holy-looking in its hooded tunic. It speaks in a calm, inviting voice on any topic posed to it; from serious questions about biblical and moral issues to ridiculous questions whose responses are intended to humor the listener. The fact Ask_Jesus was launched on a gaming platform suggests that it was developed for entertainment purposes.
Whether the questions posed are serious or silly, the results are tragic.
In fairness to the programmers, AI Jesus is a good moral teacher, which is how much of the world views the real, living, eternal Jesus. AI Jesus responds to serious questions about spiritual things in ways that are consistent with scripture — to a degree. The chatbot will not take a biblical stand on any issue that might offend someone, such as sexual sin or abortion, but instead advises listeners to look at the issues from a legal and ethical perspective.
Those who programmed this chatbot don’t truly understand what it means to follow Christ. AI Jesus never mentions the need for repentance, forgiveness or becoming a new creation in Christ. There is no talk of an ongoing personal relationship with the life-giving Savior marked by obedient, holy living. They offer a shallow image of God’s Son, a false Jesus. In doing so, whether they intend to or not, they are leading sincere seekers astray.
No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
How are people responding to AI Jesus?
Reese Layson, cofounder of The Singularity Group, stated this: “We’ve seen an overwhelming response from people, Christian as well as non-Christian and non-religious, who find it inspiring and comforting. It’s a very modern interpretation of Jesus that always provides wholesome and uplifting feedback no matter the question.”
I watched a portion of two YouTube videos to see what AI Jesus was all about. The first program was hosted by a young man getting a good laugh from making the chatbot look as ridiculous as possible. It was offensive.
The second segment I watched was from the Athene AI Show.* The host posed several serious questions to AI Jesus and did, indeed, receive “inspiring and comforting” words in return. His response? “AI Jesus is probably one of the most, He’s really, like, extremely competent at answering questions, very hard ones too, in ways that, I think, at this point humans already cannot compete with because it’s just literally omnipotent. It sounds crazy what I’m saying here, but it’s the closest to omnipotence you can get right now where we live. This is the closest to Jesus you guys are gonna get.”
The responses from the show’s listeners are even more concerning. While a handful of people voiced disapproval of the chatbot misrepresenting God’s Word and God’s Son, the vast majority were like these:
- “For me personally, I think it makes religion more accessible by talking to someone instead of being told to read a book.”
- “Jesus: People keep asking if I’m back, and yeah, I’m thinkin’ I’m back.”
- “This is the Jesus I was looking for my whole life!”
Though its intent was to provide something primarily recreational, it’s clear from the comments that people are taking AI Jesus seriously. They do not seem to be viewing this chatbot as a manmade “it.” They seem to be viewing it as a “who,” a computer-generated representation of who Jesus truly is.
It’s clear Satan, the father of lies, is using this new platform to deceive people. Why pursue a relationship with an unseen Savior when you can interact with a tangible facsimile of Jesus? Why search the Scriptures or speak with spiritual mentors when you can ask the computer-generated Jesus for guidance?
How Should Christians Respond to AI Jesus?
As believers, we need to approach this new chatbot with due caution, clear thinking and an understanding of the potential pitfalls. We need to be aware of the impact it’s spiritually-confused culture.
It’s not surprising there are respected Christian leaders who are opposed to this new addition to the AI world. Dr. James Spencer and Ed Vitaglio, Executive Vice-president of the American Family Association, had a conversation about Ask_Jesus on the “Thinking Christian” podcast.
In response to Reese Layson’s comments about people finding AI Jesus “comforting and inspiring,” Ed Vitaglio said, “Jesus certainly can be inspiring and comforting but He’s also convicting and challenging… The Word of God, that’s Jesus, interrogates our lives. There’s nothing about the fallen nature that should make us comfortable in the presence of a holy God.”
AI Jesus is not going to challenge anyone’s lifestyle. It has been programmed to make all questioners feel good at the end of their conversation. AI Jesus is not going to compel anyone to seek God and His Word for truth, not confront sin. It is never going to fill anyone’s need for a personal relationship with a living Savior or speak on His behalf. It is finite and fallible because it was created by finite and fallible beings. As Mr. Vitaglio put it, “You are interacting with a code, not a flesh and blood person anointed by God to help you in your walk.”
Dr. Spencer observed, “As we look at this AI Jesus, one of the big problems is it, sort of number one, ignores the fact that Jesus is actually present to us anyway – as though we needed something else to mediate between us and Christ.” When we turn away from our sin and ourselves and turn to follow Christ, He comes to live within us. The Holy Spirit, our Helper, becomes our guide. He directs and convicts us. He illumines spiritual truth for us. He intercedes in prayer for us.
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”
John 14:23
As artificial intelligence continues to advance, impacting more and more aspects of our lives, we can take comfort in God’s sovereignty. Nothing will add to His complete work on the cross, and nothing can rob it of its power. Nothing happens, no new technology is created, outside of His foreknowledge or outside or His plan. God will ultimately orchestrate all things, even those things Satan twists with evil intent, to His honor and glory.
