Artificial intelligence, AI. Just the mention of it conjures up fascination and perhaps even fear of what this newest phenomenon has brought on the world. It's been said that AI might be a bigger threat to the human race than even nuclear warfare. Images of robots with superhuman intelligence who have instant access to all the world's knowledge, but who don't have human emotions or feeling, could take over the planet, and even eliminate human life, some say. Could we become victims of our own creation? Can man create something greater than himself? It's no secret that AI has taken the world by storm. Perhaps nothing else in human history has developed at such warp speed.

Recently, Elon Musk made this prediction about when AI would surpass human intelligence. He said, "If you define AGI, which is artificial general intelligence, as smarter than the smartest human, I think it's probably next year or within two years." Here's the definition of AGI, just so we understand what we're talking about. Artificial general intelligence is the theoretical ability of an AI system to perform any intellectual task that a human can, such as reasoning, learning, understanding natural language, recognizing objects and patterns, and adapting to new situations. That's an amazing thought when you pause to think about it. A machine could act, look, and talk like a human.

With that potential, it seems AI could have a universal effect on everything in the world, intruding into our lives, our privacy, our security, potentially even mimicking us saying things we would never say. Along with the potential of having so much good information at our disposal that AI brings, there's also the potential for confusion and misinformation on a scale that is unprecedented. Let me give you an example. On a recent trip, I met someone who said they listened to my sermons and was surprised to learn that I speak Spanish so well. I don't, I told them. But they said, yeah, they listened to a sermon. It was my voice speaking Spanish, and my lips were moving in sync with what I was saying. When I got back to the office, I asked our media manager about it, and he said, "Yes, we did test using AI to dub one of those sermons into Spanish, and it worked perfectly."

Boy, that is a great tool for God's Church that is commissioned to preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ and His coming kingdom in every nation, the very thing that the United Church of God is committed to doing. But, on the other hand, it's concerning. This was done by artificial intelligence. Is artificial intelligence real intelligence? Was this me speaking? No. It was an artificial me speaking a language I don't speak. It wasn't reality, but it sure appeared as such. In the future, when this technology is perfected and readily available, how will anyone know which words were really said by you? Is it the real you, or is it the artificial you? Just think how the world can be manipulated and confused with such technology. It's the type of thing that could start wars, get people killed, alter economies, turn people against each other, start rebellions, and keep you from knowing the real truth about a matter.

When we hear things said that just don't make sense, we will need to seek out the real person and separate them from the artificial person that, I guess, anyone could create with this new technology. What a confusing world that will be. Where is truth? That will become a full-time job. And you need to know where the real truth is, not the artificial man-made version. Well, that's one aspect of AI, but there's another part that's also, at one point, fascinating, but also concerning. AI will dramatically increase the knowledge and its availability to anyone who seeks it. It seems that that would be a good thing, and that some sound decisions could result from that vast storehouse.

But the question is, will all this knowledge produce the peace, joy, and harmony that most people want? I'm reminded of a Bible verse that says, "There's a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death." Will artificial intelligence result in all things good, as some attest? So far in man's history, his way has resulted in war, strife, enmity, self-seeking, looking to take what others have for yourself. Man's history has not shown that his intelligence and way of doing things have led to good. And if you're watching trends in the world, you see that it is moving away from good and more toward evil. In fact, the Bible says, "A time is coming when men will call evil good and good evil." That time is here.

We, now, live in a culture that espouses things that are so different from the Judeo-Christian culture upon which Western civilization was founded, where the nuclear family structure and basic morality was taught and lived. That foundation is based on real intelligence and wisdom. The structure upon which every successful society has been built. That foundation is from the only source of real, genuine, true, and beneficial knowledge and wisdom in the world. That is God's Word, His Bible.

A year or so ago, I read an article in which a member of the World Economic Forum, who is familiar with AI, spoke of a new Bible that he thought would be written by AI for this new age. A Bible or a way of life that would rewrite the rules of humanity. It would be based on artificial intelligence, replace this Bible, the Word of God, which is the real source of truth and knowledge, and incorporate new lifestyles and sexual relationships lived in the 21st century. It would support a new kind of religion that would replace God and the Bible. It would champion itself as God, much like the narcissism of today in which people worship themselves and their desires rather than the true God. The Bible actually speaks of this type of religion being promulgated and required by the government at the time of the end by the autocratic king who will arise and dominate the world.

Notice what it says in Daniel 11:36-39, speaking of the end time. It says, "The king, at the time of the end, will do as he pleases. Exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god, even blaspheming the God of gods. He will succeed but only until the time of wrath is completed. For what has been determined will surely take place. He will have no respect for the gods of his ancestors or for the god loved by women or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them. Instead of these, he will worship the god of fortresses, a god his ancestors never knew, and lavish on him gold, silver, precious stones, and expensive gifts. Claiming this foreign god's help, he will attack the strongest fortresses. He will honor those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority, and dividing the land among them as their reward."

Just look at that new religion that will be foisted on the world. A narcissistic king will demand people to bow down to him and do things his way. If they don't, they will face starvation, punishment, and death. It is literally the time of the mark of the beast, the number 666, as prophesied in Revelation 13. Knowledge will be increased, but it will be artificial intelligence based on man's faulty ideas. It is not real. It is not real, true knowledge, and intelligence based on God, the only source of true wisdom in the world found in your Bible. In Romans 1, God tells us plainly what knowledge without Him leads to. These verses in Romans 1 define where our society is going today.

Romans 1:22, "Professing to be wise, they became fools. Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts. They exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and they worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge," notice how they became, "God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting, being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and evil-mindedness. They are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful."

Just look at that list. That's where artificial or man's intelligence leads. History bears that out. And notice what God says about that intelligence and that way of life. In verse 32 of that same Chapter, He says, "These people who know the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." They are not only known for their perversity and evil but they take delight in those who do them. Do we celebrate evil in our entertainment, such as the movies, stories, and songs we choose? Do you want to live in that type of society that's described in Romans 1?

So be aware of artificial intelligence and where the world is headed. You need the real intelligence, not artificial intelligence, if you are looking for a future filled with promise and hope. That's what the world needs, not the way of the elite or our leaders. They do not have the answers. Don't follow them to destruction, rather, turn to God. Only in Him, will you find joy, peace, purpose, and fulfillment. You can learn more about God's way, truth, and the life to which it leads at the United Church of God. You may learn things you never knew or were taught. Don't you owe that to yourself and your family? Go to ucg.org and learn more.