How can Christians Overcome their Fear of Artificial Intelligence?

What happened when I used AI-Powered Sketch App to Generate an Infographics about Fear of AI and another on How to Overcome using the Bible

The fear of Artificial Intelligence or AI is real. Getronics wrote, “Alongside its remarkable advancements, a palpable fear of AI has also emerged.” People ask: Will I lose my job? Will AI robots control humans? As Christians, how can we overcome our fear and walk in faith?

AI App Experiment

A graphics application I use recently offered an AI version of their software. Intrigued, I prompted it to: “illustrate fear of the unknown about technology and AI.” It gave me 12 options, one of them is the image 👇 below 👇.

But I did not stop there. I asked the app to create another infographic on “how to overcome fear of AI using biblical scriptures” and it generated another set of images, one of them is the picture 👇 below 👇.

Perspective: AI as a Virtual Assistant

Did you see what AI did for me? It created, in seconds, infographics with text summaries. I did the thinking, but it executed the task. It helped me find data then created acceptable graphics in a few seconds. Basically, it helped streamline the process of digital creation and increased my productivity. However, did it generate the right data or did it feed me wrong information?

AI Hallucination

When AI gives incorrect output, it is usually called AI Hallucination which IBM defines as “outputs that are nonsensical or altogether inaccurate.” Zappier added it is a problem because AI presents those wrong data as facts then gave six ways to prevent them. Actually, one sure way to overcome AI Hallucination is to do the thinking yourself and treat AI as a virtual assistant. Here is my initial feedback or verification the AI output given to me:

• A cursory examination of the list of the fear of AI or AI Anxieties infographic seems correct and confirmed by Neuroscience which wrote, “The fear of AI often boils down to the fear of loss – loss of control, loss of privacy, and loss of human value.” The perception of AI as a sentient being out of human control is terrifying…”

• The scripture references seem acceptable. Still, it is better to go back to the Bible itself. Go get your favorite printed bible or find your bible app. To make it easier for you, I also have them in the end of this post. But first, let me give you my humble feedback on this simple AI exercise.

AI Exercise Feedback (Separate Content from Process)

As a former Special Education teacher, I became familiar in separating CONTENT from PROCESS. WHAT students learn is the curriculum or “content.” HOW students learn is a “process.” Similarly, AI Generative content should be separated from how it was generated or process. So first, what was the process? Here is a simplified version:

• I wrote a prompt: “how to overcome fear of AI using biblical scriptures”

• The software generated image and text based on the prompt in seconds from its database and templates

• It gave me different choices

• I chose one out of twelve images and did minor editing (I added my logo and the logo of the software that generated it)

As you can see, I was the one doing the thinking. The AI software was executing it, but faster than any human counterpart. What about the content? Well, it was acceptable except for the second one that AI labeled as “God’s Dominion” which I believe should be God’s instruction to man. Other than that, the content was acceptable after looking at two bible versions of the verses the AI gave. Look at it yourself below.

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Bible Verses Mentioned by the AI App

I use the New Living Translation (NLT) and the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) so I can compare an easily-read version with the amplified one. Here are the verses recommended by the AI image software I used, arranged topically. It is my hope that you read them yourself and let these living words help you overcome the fear of AI, if that is an issue for you.

1- Seek Wisdom

“For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.2.6.NLT

“For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/8/pro.2.6.AMPC

2- God’s Dominion (should be God’s Instruction for Man)

“Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.’ ” Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/116/gen.1.28.NLT

“And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth.” Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭28‬ ‭AMPC https://bible.com/bible/8/gen.1.28.AMPC

3 - Fear Not

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.41.10.NLT

“Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. [Acts 18:10.]” Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/8/isa.41.10.AMPC

4 - Love over Fear

“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” 1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.4.18.NLT

“There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].” 1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/8/1jn.4.18.AMPC

5 - Spirit of Power

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.1.7.NLT

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” 2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/8/2ti.1.7.AMPC

6 - Technological Humility

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.3.NLT

“Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].” Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/8/php.2.3.AMPC

7 - Seek Counsel

“Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.” Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.15.22.NLT

“Where there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished.” Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭22‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/8/pro.15.22.AMPC

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Join the Conversation

What do you think about this AI exercise? There might be a time when AI will do more harm than good. Or not. Who knows? But right now, it is my humble opinion that we can use it to leverage our productivity and do more thinking as we are being led by God.