Are there Bots in the Bible? Word on the Week 15th June 2024.
Generative A I is an Artificial Intelligence which creates text, music or pictures on the instructions of its user. It is increasing in popularity receiving more than 1.8 billion hits on its site per month. It even exceeds the popular channel called Netflix!
Bots or rather robots are programmed by Artificial Intelligence to faithfully carry out specific actions over and over again. Many tasks in the work scene have repetitive actions which lend themselves to robots. All their actions are programmed by routines that specify the direction, speed and distance of a series of coordinated motions. This information is stored in the robot’s library and can be updated to suit changing needs.
Generative A I has a Library of information available to it and can answer questions in circumstances where the questions are anticipated. Employees answering phone calls rely on the robot’s ability to provide the answer. It is a short step for the robot to deal with the call itself!
This is the A I which can produce essays for students drawing the information from its pre-programmed library. Apparently it has now delved into paintings and music obtained from its stored information. It is only as good as its programmer’s skills!
When we come to the Bible we meet Jesus who made this extraordinary claim; “I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me” (John 12:49–50). There we have it Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6 verse 68).
What of the other Bible writers? The apostle Peter recalling his time on the Mount of Transfiguration spells out that this was not some cleverly invented story but as an eye-witness he could vouch for its authenticity. He heard a voice saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased” (2 Peter 1 verses 16/17).
He continues to claim that no prophecy of Scripture came from the prophet’s own interpretation but men spoke from God as the words were borne by the Holy Spirit (Verses 19 to 21).
The apostle Paul in prison awaiting execution wrote “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Certainly there are no Bots in the Bible!