Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe?
Thesis Question: How far should humans be allowed to proceed with artificial intelligence?
I. Introduction/background:
a. With the rise of modern technology, new advancement in artificial intelligence
(AI) hA simultaneously wowed and terrified the public. While the definition of AI
is often a murky one, the one presented by Marius Dorobantu is comprehensive
and adequate for all discussion purposes. This definition from the article
“Artificial Intelligence as a Testing Ground for Key Theological Questions” states
that AI is, “Understood as the attempt to instantiate human cognitive abilities on
artificial supports”
II. Thesis Statement:
a. Three things must dictate the extent to which humans are allowed to proceed with
AI:
i. Artificial Intelligence must not be allowed to proceed to the point where it
is anthropomorphized.
1. An article from Mark Ryan states “While people associate human
activities and abilities to machines, it becomes problematic when
this anthropomorphisation is attached to human moral activities,
such as trust”
ii. Artificial Intelligence should never be allowed to proceed to the point
where it becomes the one in charge or to the point where it’s opinion is
trusted.
1. While artificial intelligence can be a helpful way to obtain
information quickly, it must never become relied upon to assist in
serious decision.
a. From a Christian standpoint this most poignantly means
that the voice of AI must never overpower the voice of
Gods ordained pastors, and most importantly the Word of
God.
i. An article by Dorobantu discusses the idea that AI
designed by humans is inevitably going to mirror its
creator’s sinful nature to some extent. He states, “If
sin is all-pervasive in the current state of creation,
then AI could never completely bypass it: not
because it would become itself evil, but more in the
sense of inevitably reflecting its creators’ moral
shortcoming”
iii. Artificial Intelligence must never be allowed to proceed to the point where
it is putting real humans out of work.
1. In reference to AI, one article states “Electronic substitutes usurp
not only manual labor, but also cognitive and service-oriented
professions once considered immune to automation” (Cheong,
2020)
2. Many jobs that once seemed immune to electronic substitution can
be seized by AI, leaving real men and women without work.
III. Refutation:
a. Some may argue that the entirety of AI should be done away with. They may
argue that the slippery slope of mankind will doubtless dictate a future of AI in
which it is utilized for immoral purposes. However, the inception of AI brought
with it many benefits that can be preserved if careful restrictions are put in place.
i. One article states that AI is a “Powerful force reshaping and benefiting
societies by reducing costs and risks, increasing consistency and reliability,
and providing new solutions to complex problems” (Hermann, 2021)
ii. The good aspect of AI can only be preserved if boundaries are set in place.
IV. Conclusion:
a. In conclusion, the development of AI must only be allowed to proceed under three
caveats,
i. AI must not become anthropomorphized
ii. AI must not become a singular, independent source of authority
iii. AI must not be allowed to usurp jobs from real humans.
b. A quote from Ryan sums this concept up perfectly, he describes that individuals
must not view AI as “trustworthy” but rather as “reliable” (Ryan, 2020). This
shift in mindset allows us to recognize the factual information that AI provides,
while recognizing its lack of ultimate authority. Ultimately, this allows the user to
control AI, rather than AI controlling its user.
References
Cheong, P. H. (2020). Bounded Religious Automation at Work: Communicating Human
Authority in Artificial Intelligence Networks.Journal of Communication
Inquiry,45(1), 5–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0196859920977133
Dorobantu, M. (2022). ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS A TESTING GROUND FOR KEY
THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS.Zygon®,57(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12831
Hermann, E. (2021). Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Marketing for Social Good—An
Ethical Perspective.Journal of Business Ethics,179(1).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04843-y
Ryan, M. (2020). In AI We Trust: Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, and Reliability.Science and
Engineering Ethics,26(5). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-020-00228-y
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
