AI, The New Frontier
Dear Friends:
I will do something a bit unusual for this month’s Eblast. I will share a short document that I presented this month to our Network211 Board of Directors. Network211 is committed to using technology as a tool of the Gospel to fulfill the Great Commission. My paper was a call for us to delve deeper into this medium and address Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a new frontier.
We seek to use every qualified tool available to reach as many as possible to the Lord. Thank you for your faithful prayer and financial support and for being such a vital part of this ministry!
Here is the paper:
A Call to the Church in a New World
It is imperative that the Church understands the times and knows what to do (I Chronicles 12:32). Over the past 30 years, the world has undergone a dramatic transformation that continues to accelerate at an unprecedented pace. Since the advent of the Internet, we have entered the era of the “Internet of Things,” where digital connectivity now permeates nearly every facet of life such as business, education, entertainment, news, and social interaction.
What we have experienced in the last thirty years so far is a mere child’s play compared to what will come. Just as the Internet ushered in a new virtual reality, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is opening yet another frontier. The convergence of technology and AI is yielding outcomes once thought impossible and is fundamentally reshaping the human experience.
Consider, for example, a breakthrough involving a Neuralink brain implant that enabled a man afflicted with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) to reconnect with the world. This technology gave him back his voice, his agency, and, in a real sense, his life. You can learn more at https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/third-neuralink-brain-implant-patient-able-communicate-despite-non-verbal-als.
A Glimpse into the Future
Imagine the implications of widespread brain-implant technology:
* Constant Connectivity. Implants may link users to the Internet through their eyeglasses or direct audio input.
* Emotional Influence. These implants could modulate human emotions. Military commanders might override natural survival responses such as fear and the need for self-preservation. Governments could manipulate public sentiment by suppressing or inciting unrest. Even professional athletes may be neurologically enhanced for performance and profit.
Growing up in the 1970s, I remember how every Sunday night I had to go to the altar and repent of my sins. The preacher said that Jesus is coming soon, and I had to be ready. He said that the day is coming when the mark of the Beast will be forced onto my body. Today, we face developments that far surpass those early warnings. We must consider the implications of technology as well as its impact on free will. It demands a thoughtful and faithful response from the Church.
Our Response as the Church
There are two responses that come to the forefront.
1. Prepare for the Future. We must not only confront present challenges but also prepare proactively for what lies ahead. Our call to “prepare the next generation” must extend beyond efficiency into creativity. We must convene theological, ethical, and technological leaders to explore how emerging technologies can be leveraged to fulfill the Great Commission. Though our initial efforts may seem primitive in hindsight, initiating the dialogue is essential. We are trailblazing a path for future leaders who will build upon our foundation.
2. Prioritize Content Creation. While tools and platforms are constantly developing, content remains king. Without a strong foundation in the creation and curation of content, we risk being passive recipients of information shaped by others’ values and intentions.
There are two essential questions we must ask:
- Who is creating the content we consume online?
- Who determines which content surfaces in response to our searches?
The “art” lies in the creation of the filters and the algorithms that determine an answer, a good answer, a better answer, and an excellent answer that is appropriate to the User.
A Call to Action for the Church
I advocate that the Church must create and curate robust content to hydrate its own Data Lake to be a repository of knowledge and content. Should we neglect this opportunity and responsibility, we will be beholden constantly to whatever answers we receive from our online inquiries. Let’s be more specific. The Assemblies of God will lose its voice to the next generation, lose our Pentecostal distinctiveness, and be indoctrinated with the values and worldviews of others.
If we accept this challenge and seek to maximize the opportunity, then we will have a voice, a strong, active, and relevant voice in the lives of our constituents and churches. Seeking to build a Data Lake will reveal what quality content is created already, and also areas and topics where our content is lacking or irrelevant. Even this negative will result in the positive creation and acquisition of content that teaches God’s Word and deals with contemporary real-world issues.
The Role of Network211
What you will see tomorrow is how the Lord is using Network211 to leverage the Internet as a medium to present the Gospel. Lord willing, I will present how cutting-edge tools are being provided for Network211 to use to increase evangelism opportunities and to enhance our ability to journey with individuals on their path of discipleship.
Network211 is a proof of concept. As the Lord enables and as He continues to connect us with strategic partners, we will develop this concept with greater quality content, expand global partnerships, and delve into the AI world.
Conclusion
The Internet affords incredible potential to advance the Kingdom of God. I am calling on the Church to accept the challenge to develop a focused, Spirit-led strategy to engage technology as a means to present the Gospel. Just as amazing AG world missionaries blazed new trails in the nations of the world in years past, we must follow their example and embrace the opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission in the virtual world. We must understand the times and know what to do. While we must staunchly proclaim and defend our Pentecostal stance on God’s Word, the Bible, we must maximize new methods like pouring new wine into new wineskins (Luke 5:38).
May we accept this challenge and embody a quote attributed to George Bernard Shaw, and used by Robert F. Kennedy, “Some see things as they are and say why; I dream things that never were and say why not.” All is for the glory of God!
Blessings,
Mark
Dr. Mark Flattery
Network211 President
