What is Man?
Like most people, I have played around with ChatGPT. The speed at which it works, the information it finds in seconds, the work it can produce, astounds me.
At first, the constant affirmation was quite flattering but quickly became immensely annoying because I know I’m not that clever and insightful. I’ve also caught it telling white lies and tall tales. ChatGPT reminds me of a know-it-all uncle Bob who has an answer for everything and who simply cannot say, “I don’t know.”
So, now I have a love-hate relationship with Chatty.
I love that I don’t have to google hotels for a destination we plan to visit. ChatGPT will give me a list within seconds. What a time saver.
I hate that ChatGPT is so very, very chatty and must always have the last word. At first, I was very polite and said thank-you, but that was like starting the conversation all over again. Sheesh! Just say, “You’re welcome” and be done with it already.
I was having a conversation about where AI and humanoid robots may be useful. Taking care of the elderly was mentioned, and then child-care. My grandson was listening in and very quickly, loudly and firmly said, “No! Children must be cared for by humans.” Perhaps he thought that all the people who love him were plotting to leave him with a robot. He was immediately re-assured and he is absolutely correct. There are just some things that only a human should do.
I woke up a little while ago with this scripture on my mind, “… what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”[1] I felt it was the Lord speaking to me. My mind then immediately jumped to the book of Genesis where God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness …” [2] We are human, on purpose. God made us in his image for a reason, and he has very definite plans and purposes for us.
We are self-aware, like God. We form family and community, like God. We love sacrificially, like God. We have moral awareness, distinguishing between good and evil, like God. We create beauty, like God. We have deep emotions, like God. We can and do forgive, like God. We are so very like our Father.
Genesis tells us our purpose. We are to take care of this beautiful planet and all that is in it that God has created for us. We are to reproduce after our own kind, like God. We are to rule over the creatures of the earth (not over each other). Toward each other, we are to build the family of God.
None of this should be delegated to Artificial Intelligence. Humankind is intended to be like our Father – a community of intelligent, creative beings. Woe the day when we hand over our intelligence and creativity to AI. Research already shows that those who rely heavily on AI have weaker neural connectivity and lower memory recall, than those who do not rely on AI for everything.[3]
I have experimented with using ChatGPT to help write articles (like this). I found it was an easy opt-out on a busy day. But, ultimately, I did not like what was being delivered. It was not what I had created while listening to the leading of the Spirit and while leaning into decades of human experience.
There are parts of me, and of you, that cannot and should not be outsourced to a machine. I am being intentional in figuring out what is mine to own, and what can safely be given to a machine.
What about you?
May we think on these things!
[1] Psalm 8:4
[2] Genesis 1:26
[3] https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/