Is It Really Intelligent?
I’m sure you’ve noticed the two-letter word that has made its way into nearly everyone’s vocabulary and is increasing in popularity daily. That word is AI (Artificial Intelligence). The importance of Artificial Intelligence dominates conversations today, but we don’t have to know much about technology in order to be familiar with AI. We deal with it when we call customer service at our bank or at our cable provider or even at our doctor’s office. Insstead of getting a live customer “servant,” we get a voice that offers us the Main Menu and tells us how to respond to its prompts. If you tell it the last four digits of your account number or your Social, it repeats your answer and asks you, “Did I get it right?” AI seems to be quite a conversationalist! And it has other “smart assistants” like Alexa and Siri, not to mention Google and platforms like ZOOM and Twitter.
AI systems perform tasks normally associated with intelligent human functions. Its software simulates human intelligence and is being used in just about every area of life. It’s fascinating to learn about its vast capabilities, which are impressive but also scary since it can be used in ways that are harmful. Scammers use AI technology to impersonate people to extort money from them or their relatives. This is one of the drawbacks of the system, despite its array of benefits in industry, education, our food supply, as well as in the medical field. Propelled by AI, our technological age is heading in awesome new directions every day.
But AI raises questions even while it solves problems. AI doesn’t reason. It is programmed to follow prompts. Can it then have a moral center and make right choices? Does it know, in a cognitive sense, or does it only respond? Perhaps in the future technologists will build into it a conscience–which is hardly likely–but for now, it doesn’t have one. This may be one reason that world leaders are sounding the alarm bell about the future dangers of Artificial Intelligence to human existence.
A few decades ago, Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner introduced us to the idea of multiple intelligences. In Gardner’s theory, we humans aren’t gifted with just an intelligence but with many different kinds of intelligence–eight at least, among them Linguistic Intelligence, Musical Intelligence, and Kinesthetic Intelligence. We’re familiar with Mathematical Intelligence, the gift many of us say we never got since we can’t even balance our checkbooks. Gardner also singled out Interpersonal Intelligence, the ability to relate to others appropriately and meaningfully in society. How does AI stack up on this one?
In my book Island Hearts, Claire Wynter uses the term “artificial intelligence” to describe Eric Perkins, a young man bent on pursuing a romantic relationship with her. Claire’s friends, Tovia and Maureen, portray Eric as a great catch, very intelligent. When Claire learns from Maureen that Eric has done some highly unprincipled things, she tells her friend that Eric’s brilliance is a case of artificial intelligence. Maureen is surprised to hear her say this about someone so intellectually gifted, and Claire clarifies. “Eric lacks spiritual formation,” she says. In other words, he’s morally deficient.
And so it is with our present AI passion. It may seem to be just the thing we need in our brave new world, but does it have a moral center? Carlos Whittaker, in his book How to Human (yes, that is the real title), says we need “something inside us to join with the people around us to do incredible things that a world in pain and uncertainty needs.” AI doesn’t have that “something,” at least, not yet. AI is good for our hands and our heads, but we need the third essential component—the heart, which keeps us humanly intelligent, for it is out of the heart that the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34). We are counting on the human creators of AI to display integrity and good sense in their work, because on its own, AI doesn’t have the heart to be human.
Blessings,
Judith
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“Some people worry that artificial intelligence will
make us feel inferior, but then, anybody in his
right mind should have an inferiority complex
every time he looks at a flower.”
****Alan Kay, Computer Scientist
10 Comments
Hyacinth Reece-Headley
Great information. Well done. Something to think about. God bless you Dr. Nembhard
Judith Nembhard
Hyacinth!!! My, my!! You see the exclamation points? I am so overjoyed to hear from you Thank you for the good comment.
I hope all is going well with you. Many blessings to you, my dear friend. JN
Ouida E. Westney
A very timely and substantive presentation. Thank you very much. Blessings.
Judith Nembhard
Hello Ouida,
Good to hear from you on this AI topic that has so many people thinking about its potential for harm.
I know that like the rest of us, you’re keeping an eye on developments. We don’t need any more trouble than what climate
change is inflicting. Thanks for joining the conversation. JN
Nanette Schell
Dear Judith,
Thank you for another of your wonderful blogs.
Many people think of Artificial Intelligence as little green men running around making strange noises.
Aliens from another world way beyond.
The age of A I is upon us and many of us have not kept up with this new and somewhat difficult new
way of life which is now intruding into everything we do.
Like so many of your blogs you are able to explain in simple words so we can understand.
Thank you again my dear friend.
Nan
Judith Nembhard
Hi Nan,
It sounds as if you saw it coming when others were merely looking at “little green men.” AI is real. Even my AARP magazine that came today has something to say in the matter. We have to wait and see what comes out of all the concern that the government and other world leaders are spouting.
Thank you for another good–and enjoyable–comment. JN
Fartema M Fagin
Hmmm, artificial intelligence, is it really intelligent? In my opinion, it is only as intelligent as the information provided to make up its data base. I’m somewhat reluctant to engage in this topic of artificial intelligence. Of course, this form of artificial intelligence is supposed to make life easier, in some cases it can be annoying and overwhelming. For example, a simple act of checking in for a doctor’s scheduled appointment requires one to fill out medical information. This data seems to be shared in a database where medical marketers peruse and offer all sorts of medical products, services and treatment options.
AI does raise questions when it comes to how technology manipulates the data. AI does not have a moral center, nor does it have a conscience. I totally agree with you that the heart keeps us humanly intelligent. AI doesn’t have the heart to be human.
Judith Nembhard
Fartema, you have a good handle on AI. I wish everybody did. We’re galloping into uncharted territory. I hope those leading the chase don’t take us off the cliff. As you said, there’s good with the bad of AI. I hope the good prevails. Thanks for a valuable comment. JN
Sharon King
This was a timely post about AI. In talking about all the new technology, I don’t like it at all. Over the past 2 months I have received letters from both my credit union and one of my doctor’s offices saying that there was a data breach and some of my information may have been accessed by a third party. Then they give information on how to protect yourself against identity theft, etc. Some of this new technology is great for medicine, but I think it’s very scary in other areas, especially when used by people who use it for harm. Thank you for your blog posts. I need to read Island Hearts and Myra’s Calling.
Judith Nembhard
Hello Sharon,
Generally, technology-AI in particular, is useful, bot, as you’ve said, it is scary in the way it is used. I’m sorry about your data breach difficulty. I’ve had to deal with some scammers myself. It’s as if some evil individuals sre just waiting for the opportunity to take advantage of their fellow humn bings using the new technology. I hope somethikng will be done to help solve the problems. Please get a copy of Island Hearts as well as Dark Days on the Fairest Isle. Unfortunately, Myra’s Calling is no longer available. Thank you for your good comment. All the best to you. JN