My Initial Reflections on AI
Most of us can remember when the FIRST word-processors came into general use. I have spent most of my professional life writing scientific papers. My earliest papers were typed on a typewriter with the typist committing her novel errors in addition to my own. I was among the first graduate students to type my own dissertation, with my wife's help, on to an Apple IIe computer with tractor-feed paper. Thus, having already experienced the many, many advantages of word-processors, I was frustrated that my research university was slow in adopting it. I know well that word-processing made my career so very much more productive and enjoyable than it would have been with typewriters.
We are now so accustomed to word-processors that few of us have seen a typewriter in many years. One aspect of the word-processor is that all programs now have “Spelling and Grammar” checking options. As a University professor, I do NOT recall anyone having ethical reservations about using spell-checkers on word-processors.
With AI generation of written work, we see word-processing “on steroids”. Now we have much, much more than spell-checking. But, hopefully we having learned a bit from the popular adoption of word-processing, I would suggest:
AI text generation is here to stay.
AI use in writing is extremely difficult, though not impossible, to detect.
It is an amoral tool—though my friend, Dr. Richard Edlin, does point out that AI creators do have moral & ethical positions and it would be impossible for those not to manifest in AI products.
AI is a tool, like word-processing, and it, like the computer itself, like electricity, like most technology, has good and bad aspects. E.g. The World Wide Web has made it possible to minister the Gospel worldwide in seconds, it has also make internet pornography a very convenient means for serious sin.
AI is a tool, and it should be utilized for the good of mankind, with acknowledgment that it will also be abused to the detriment of mankind.
The only ethical restriction I can envision, is that like plagiarism, we must not use AI's words without rightfully acknowledging them. (Note that we did not require that of word-processing use, but it was adopted so fully that everyone knew it was being used—perhaps AI will be the same and only when it is NOT used would that be noted.)
AI is a tool that is here to stay. Let us explore ways to ethically use AI to help us all. As Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us, “There is nothing new under the sun!.” G^d is not surprised by AI. Mankind is clearly fallen. I predict, with certainty, that AI will be used for evil, and for good. AI may contribute to the end of the world, but G^d is omniscient, omnipotent and still interested in mankind, and in charge. We don't put our faith in technology but in the G^d who created man, and everything in the cosmos (Gen 1:1).
For a deeper, fuller discussion of these issues see, Edlin, Richard (June 2023). It’s a matter of the heart: Thinking Christianly about ChatGPT & AI. It can be found at,
All of Life Redeemed. https://www.allofliferedeemed.co.uk/RJE2023ChatGPT.pdf
