AI/Divine Intelligence: Seeking collaborative work
How might Artificial Intelligence present dangers, limitations, or possibilities in my academic pursuit? I will attempt to answer this question in this blog. I have not been acquainted with AI and how I might make use of it as a student prior to this assignment. It was helpful to look at definitions of AI. “AI, commonly is defined as ‘a system’s ability to interpret external data correctly, to learn from such data, and to use those learnings to achieve specific goals and tasks through flexible adaptation.” [1] In this data assessment and goal achievement, AI is fraught with positive and negative aspects. The following explains this mixed bag.
DANGERS
Oppenheimer is a recently released movie that leaves viewers with the question of how a man, Robert Oppenheimer, might live after creating something that may have won a war but also killed many people. Watching it led me to think of the potential dangers that come with AI.
Asking difficult questions surrounding AI is a good place to begin when evaluating its safety. David Baud asserts, “How do we judge trustworthiness? Because knowledge is cheap and easy to find.” [2] Who is creating AI and are they to be trusted? What accountability measures might be put in place for those who create AI? Heinlein and Kaplan, in their article, “A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence: On the Past, Present, and Future of Artificial Intelligence” proposes accountability resting with its creators, stating: “Accountability of firms for mistakes of their algorithms or even the need for a moral code of AI engineers, similar to the one lawyers or doctors are swearing to,” may be a possible solution. [3] But even with moral codes in place, is there still room for concern? Iason Gabriel writes, “How are we to decide which principles or objectives to encode in AI- and who has the right to make these decisions-given that we live in a pluralistic world that is full of competing conceptions of value?” [4] Some of these dangers are left to be discovered and the answers to these questions remain unanswered.
LIMITS
Using AI for academic purposes is limited and this may be to a student’s advantage. If teachers employ modalities of learning that are outside the bounds of using a computer, students must employ their own creative abilities. As a student, I may choose to use AI to assist in a given assignment, but what if it requires verbal skills, relating skills in a small group (requiring delegation and collaboration), or taking a test without access to a computer? A student needs to demonstrate their own repertoire of skills in accomplishing assignments. ‘Intelligence’ is understood to refer to ‘an agent’s ability to achieve goals in a wide range of environments. [5] A student’s intelligence may best be demonstrated apart from their use of AI.
How many applications of AI might a student use? Due to a student’s memory capacity, I am curious how many ChatGPT products can be skillfully applied when given access to them. It should be expected that more products are coming with ChatGPT, “thick and fast.’” [6] Assessing what products I choose to use will be important. Because it is difficult to be completely competent with multiple products, I believe students will self-impose limits on their AI use.
POSSIBILITIES
Mentally I am trying to brace myself for what is coming. I cannot imagine how AI will impact my life and the lives of my family members. Webb states: “AI will become as much part of everyday life as the Internet or social media did in the past.” [7] There is an appeal which cannot be denied, AI is “genuinely useful for time saving.” [8] Some may argue that AI will take away jobs, but others contend, “AI is unlikely to replace human tasks. The Garter Reports show that AI creates more jobs than it destroys.” [9] There are so many possibilities.
Apart from how AI might impact my studies as a doctoral student, I am intrigued with the notion that people will need to grow in their EI (Emotional Intelligence). This is an area that I am skilled in and may assist others in. Huang, Rust, and Maksimovic write in their article “The Feeling Economy: Managing in the Next Generation of AI”, human employees will be increasingly occupied with feeling tasks since thinking tasks will be taken over by AI systems in a manner similar to how mechanical tasks have been taken over by machines and robots.” [10] I am excited to think about what role I may take in equipping others with interpersonal skills. My mental mindset will rest on Haenlein’s and Kaplan’s summary from their article “A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence: On the Past, Present, and Future of Artificial Intelligence” of what lies ahead: “The question is “which role it (AI) will play and more importantly how AI systems and humans can (peacefully) coexist next to each other. Which decisions should rather be taken by AI, which ones by humans, and which ones in collaboration?” [11] Discernment plays a big role in this process.
IMPLICATIONS IN MY DOCTORAL STUDIES
Biblical standards need to be my guide as I pursue my academic work. I am challenged by King David’s directives to his adult son Solomon:
1 Chronicles 28:8-10: “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”
I must be fastidious in how I engage my studies because I know God provides personal attention to me as he did for King Solomon.
Ultimately, I hope to be like one of the servants at the wedding feast in John 2, when Mary directs them with this encouragement; “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5) [12] I find myself, in my mind’s eye, seeking out Jesus with eager expectation of what he might do as his capabilities are limitless and I know I will be left in awe. I look to Jesus for Divine Intelligence.
[1] Haenlein, Michael and Andreas Kaplan, “A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence: On the Past, Present, and Future of Artificial Intelligence”, 2019, Vol 61 (4), California Management Review, p.5
[1] Gabriel, Iason, “Artificial Intelligence, Values, and Alignment”, 2020, Springer, p.412
[2] Baud, David. AssessmentAI, https://drive.google.com/file/d/190H6EdmV3zVuEEStET2kcTHdKkp8k9Wd/view?usp=drive_link
[3] Haenlein, Michael and Andreas Kaplan, “A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence: On the Past, Present, and Future of Artificial Intelligence”, 2019, Vol 61 (4), California Management Review, p.11
[4] Gabriel, Iason, “Artificial Intelligence, Values, and Alignment”, 2020, Springer, p.412
[5] Ibid. p.412
[6] Webb, Michael, “Chat GPT-3 and its Impact on Education: Michael Webb, https://www.jisc.ac.uk/national-centre-for-ai
[7] Ibid.Webb
[8] Ibid. Webb
[9] Prentice, Catherine, “Emotional Intelligence or Artificial Intelligence- An Employee Perspective”, Aug. 14, 2019 Journal of Hospitality Marketing and Management Vol. 29, 2020, Issue 4 p.25
[10] Haenlein, Michael and Andreas Kaplan, “A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence: On the Past, Present, and Future of Artificial Intelligence”, 2019, Vol 61 (4), California Management Review, p.9
[11] Ibid. p.9
[12] Ford, Leighton, The Attentive Life: Discerning God’s Presence in All Things, 2008, Illinois: Downers Grove, p.135
About the Author
Kristy Newport
4 responses to “AI/Divine Intelligence: Seeking collaborative work”
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Ah, Kristy I am so glad you brought up the movie Oppenheimer! Yes, Robert Oppenheimer opened pandora’s box to ethical dilemmas that we now have to wrestle with. Same with AI. There is no putting it back in the box. The genie is out, as David Baud says. Now, we need to critically engage with the ethical usage of it.
Great work Kistry!
Kristy,
As always, your post is exceptional and well thought out. The questions you pose about the dangers and risks of AI are good ones – with no real answers yet.
I also am pretty unfamiliar with the topic. And before this assignment, I had never given its impact on my studies any thought.
I love how you ended your post – seeking Divine Intelligence. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Awesome post, Kristy! I think you could write an entire book on “divine intelligence or emotional intelligence” and it would get people a lot further in life than AI. I really enjoyed your thorough explanation of the limitations and dangers but also your view on using it correctly and with Godly character. AI can be a blessing if used correctly.
I’m looking forward to seeing you and catching up in Oxford.
What is 1 way that you have used AI to save you time?