by Vincent V. Marshburn
CEOs, politicians, and pundits are currently praising the virtues of artificial intelligence (AI) as a technology that might miraculously solve many problems. Some of their language borders on the mystical and sacrosanct. At the same time, media coverage of generative AI highlights the extreme consequences of its misuse, from harmful effects on mental health to manipulation of content in exploitative ways.
Amid this uncertain societal landscape, individuals such as myself, a congregant at Homestead (FL) Mennonite, seek to bring balance, reason, and spiritual perspective to the conversation. I have worked in information technology since the early 1990s and have served as a college professor for 20 years. At the invitation of Pastor Pavel Gailans, I recently presented a two-part workshop to share about the fundamentals of modern AI, its impact on society, and its implications for the Body of Christ in its mission to share the Gospel.
Borrowing from a literary phrase, I titled the workshops “Deus Ex Machina (God from the Machine): Christian Stewardship of Technology.” I addressed the curiosity and concerns within the Christian community surrounding modern AI. I began by noting that the idea that technology can “save” us is an extension of humanity’s historical tendency to seek solutions apart from God. Throughout history humans have tended to look to any other source for divinely-inspired deliverance. Recognizing this mindset is important to understanding why so many people seek comfort and succor in technology.
In the first workshop, I reviewed a brief history of AI and its current iterations. I shared some of the benefits and pitfalls of generative AI and emphasized the need for discernment among Christians to identify appropriate uses of these systems. AI, I suggested, is a tool and, like any tool, can be used constructively or destructively.
The second workshop focused on practical uses of specific generative AI tools. I demonstrated how NotebookLM can help summarize and analyze user-defined content including documents, webpages, and audio or video transcripts. These tools can be used to create learning aids and invitational materials for activities like Bible studies or outreach efforts.
I emphasized that no AI tool is a substitute for human contact and connection. While the keyword for the first workshop was discernment, the keywords during the second workshop were authenticity and disclosure. Equipped with these principles, I believe that we who claim the Cross can offer a distinctive witness in conversations about artificial intelligence and its role in our world today. Both workshops concluded with productive question and answer sessions.
Vincent V. Marshburn
Vincent V. Marshburn was born in Vietnam and raised in the U.S. He works in education and information technology and is a contributing writer for the local city newspaper. He has been married to his remarkable wife, Cheryl, for 35 years, and they somehow managed to successfully homeschool all four of their children into college.
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The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.