There is no question that AI and ChatGPT is one of the most powerful and disruptive technologies to come on the scene. AI is already having and will continue to have a powerful impact on our world for many years to come. AI is being met with much anticipation, but also with anxiety and a healthy dose of concern and fear.

AI ChatGPT is the subject of discussion everywhere, in the workplace, marketplace, our educational institutions, and even the church. AI ChatGPT… aye yai yai. The talk centers around how AI and ChatGPT is going to forever change our lives, especially the economy and job landscape.

Just in case you have not heard about this technology, AI stands for (artificial intelligence) which to me is an oxymoron. Artificial Intelligence. ChatGPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer. Open AI uses adaptive human-like text and can answer questions, write stories, and engage in dialog. It can debug computer code, admit mistakes, and challenge an incorrect premise. It can clone voices and create audio files without any of the usual equipment required.

Many aspects of AI’s and ChatGPT’s capabilities will undoubtedly be beneficial, but at what cost? Will it so disrupt the workforce and economy that it will displace millions upon millions of workers? Will it take over so many of life’s functions that require literacy, decision making abilities, leadership, hard and soft skills, and relationships, that it will make human participation in much of the job market virtually obsolete? Ever see the movie WALL-E? Yikes, rather disconcerting, isn’t it?

What about education, the ability for ChatGPT to take a bar exam, write term papers, do research, or attend an online class in your place? Will AI get your degree, or will your name be on the “sheep skin”? What about the potential overreach of AI technology to monitor our every activity, surveillance of every part of our lives with no regard to privacy no matter how many privacy setting you activate? In addition, ChatGPT is a man-made language subject to man’s bias. Who will be its’ “conscience”? Will it be woke?

And finally, there’s the impact of ChatGPT on the church. True, it may assist with research and putting together lessons, but in my opinion for a pastor to “prepare” a sermon using AI and then delivering it as his own, supposedly led by the Holy Spirit, is unethical. If a pastor writes a sermon using AI and ChatGPT, will he need to disclose to the congregation that this sermon was written by AI and was not prepared through the study of God’s Word, prayer, or the leading of the Holy Spirit. When preaching an AI sermon what’s the Holy Spirit’s role? AI may provide technical accuracy, but is the Holy Spirit expected to be subservient to AI. The Holy Spirit is God, a person, part of the Trinity. AI is software. It isn’t sentient, doesn’t have a personality, nor was it there in the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth.

I mentioned earlier that AI stands for (Artificial Intelligence) and ChatGPT stands for (Generative Pre-trained Transformer.)  If we are going to have AI and ChatGPT in the church I have a better definition: AI – (Adonai’s Intelligence) Adonai (My Lord) The all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing God of the universe. And ChatGPT – (God’s Pre-eminent Truth) Instead of relying on Artificial Intelligence and Generative Pre-trained Transformer), let’s rely instead on God’s “chat” with us – His Holy Word, and (God’s Permanent Truth) which is what truly transforms our lives.

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