This headline caught my eye: “Google Home Disables All Religious References After Controversy Over Jesus Answer” (https://ijr.com/the-declaration/2018/01/1056523-google-home-disables-religious-references-controversy-jesus-answer/?utm_campaign=conservativedirect&utm_medium=partners&utm_source=email&utm_term=prm32).
Actually, it was a non-answer: Google’s “smart assistant” was “unable to answer questions about Jesus,” although it was okay with questions about Buddha, Mohammed, and Satan. That figures.
Fact: Computers can be no “smarter” than the people who program them. A computer programmed by ninnies will answer as a ninny.
In Luke 9:20, Jesus put the question to his disciples: He said unto them, “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter answering said, “The Christ of God.”
In Acts 16:30, the jailer in Philippi asks Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said (v. 31), “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
What’s so hard about that?
But Google Home can’t give you those answers because they weren’t in the program, so Google has “temporarily” disabled all religious reference…”to ensure respect.”
Do we really, truly, want to receive our religious instruction from computers programmed by God knows whom? I wonder what amazon.com’s little electronic genius, “Alexa,” would answer if you asked, “Alexa, what must I do to be saved?” Something tells me I don’t want to know the answer to that question. “Believe in Global Warming and gender reassignment…” Don’t ask.
Artificial Intelligence is not “intelligence” in any meaningful sense. The operative word is “artificial.” It is a mindless simulation of intelligence, nothing more.
God’s Word is available for anyone to read at any time.
Don’t ask the idol.
That’s the point, why are people asking computerized devices these sorts of questions?
Maybe their pastors are too busy raising money.
A reasonable likelihood.
“Don’t ask the idol” is the most profound statement I’ve heard today — and I’m not being sarcastic. It’s probably a good thing to remember even when we’re not talking about electronic gizmos. I want to pray about this some more. Thank you, Lee.
Thank you, Phoebe.
The Bible is the only infallible history book in the world. I can imagine what Alexa would say about that. Personally, I don’t need an “idol” to turn on & off my TV set for me, or adjust the thermostat since I am still quite capable of doing that myself.