Lots of people are worried about Artificial Intelligence. That’s what happens when we don’t tell children that science fiction isn’t ‘Future Science Fact.’ Kids think that the ‘Terminator’ movies are prophecy. These kids become adults who worry about machines coming to life and wiping out humanity.

Some famous people have made statements about the ‘progress’ being made in A.I. Listening to these folks reinforces the idea that it’s just a matter of time before software starts ‘thinking’ just like you think. As proof, they point to the strides made in voice recognition. You can talk to your phone and it will respond!

Awhile back there was a device called, ‘The Clapper’ that turned appliances on or off when you clapped your hands. The Clapper didn’t know whether it was turning on a lamp or turning off the coffee maker. It just listened for the trigger noise and flipped a switch. The machine needed human intelligence in order to perform meaningful tasks. Even when it was a brand new invention, nobody every said, “Wow! That Clapper sure is a smart machine!”

Modern computers are like a bunch of tiny ‘Clappers.’ The machine brain is capable of flipping switches on and off which activate machines that light up, put ink on paper, or play music. All those flipping switches can create a dazzling display for the senses. It creates the illusion of ‘thinking.’ But the thoughtfulness isn’t happening inside the electronic device. The computer needs human intelligence to give it purpose.

The secret to creating life (and intelligence) lies with God. Humans don’t know how to make a rose bush. Humans don’t know how to make a chicken egg. And humans don’t know how to make a human mind. You can ignore anyone who suggests that they’re “getting close” to making machines that think and reason. Rational thought is a gift from God. We don’t know how it works so there’s no way we can teach it to our coffee makers.

“Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”

(Isaiah 29:14)