-by Rev. Nick Phillips
I have a background in computer science. I remember sitting in a university class in the 1990s and discussing Artificial Intelligence with a professor who spent significant time researching the topic. And as much as he had a passion for the subject, he knew it was unlikely he would see it come to market in his lifetime. The computing power needed is too great and, he surmised, it could never replace the human element.
Flash forward 30 years and we see “AI” everywhere. All new technology, from phones, to computers, to household appliances, all tout their AI advantage. The problem is, none of it is AI in its purest form.
In the late ’90s everything was e-something. We had e-mail, e-commerce, and so on. Then with the rise of the iPod, we had iEverything. Now we’ve moved on to AI everything, whether it’s truly AI or not (again, none of it really is).
Today’s AI is like Microsoft’s use of Clippy. Remember Clippy? Clippy was an assistant in Microsoft Office that would help you with your Word or Excel use. Everyone hated Clippy. It would pop up often and interrupt your work, rather than help.
I think we can all agree where we want AI to be most helpful: make dinner, do the dishes, clean the house, wash and fold the laundry. If we could start there with AI, that would be truly life-changing. I don’t need AI to help me write a text, an email, or even this column. I can handle these tasks just fine, thank you.
Don’t get me wrong, AI has its place. If it can be used to detect early forms of cancer, that is fantastic. However, AI lacks the ability to connect on a personal, or spiritual, level. A computer can only work with the data it is given. Data does not have emotion. Therefore AI cannot meet us on the level we desire. For you Star Trek: The Next Generation fans out there, think of Data’s desire for human emotion. Honestly, I was disappointed when the series gave in and granted him his wish.
Most people I talk to are on some kind of spiritual quest, whether they acknowledge it or not. We spend much of our lives seeking meaning, seeking connection, longing for “more.” We just may not quite understand what the “more” is we’re longing for. More money or things don’t seem to solve it. Drugs and alcohol don’t work either, except for maybe a short-lived reprieve. And the repercussions are dangerous.
If you are in such a place of longing for “more” or a deeper meaning of it all, I know how you feel. I was once where you are. Then I heard the words of Psalm 121. “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?”
These words still come to me many times; times when I’m feeling tired, overwhelmed, unsure of myself. Where does my help come from?
The Psalm answers that question for us, “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
I am now a minister in the Christian church, but I didn’t start out that way. As I said, I have a background in computer science. I was data driven. I was focused on the science of everything. I was a slave to the machine of producing output for the company. And I felt unfulfilled. For me, it was learning about God and realizing I could have a personal relationship with him which led me to feeling more complete, something AI could never do.
Don’t neglect your spiritual needs, whether you find it in church, or maybe somewhere else. In my life it was church. But more than that, it was the realization of God’s loving presence in my life that changed everything. God was indeed my help when I was looking for answers.
If you have questions about God and church, there are some great pastors in our local Inverness County churches. They are far more personable than AI. Seek them out, I know they would be more than happy to have a chat with you.
Blessings on your journey.