Putting AI to the Test – Hype or Fulfillment

What can the average user expect from AI

Why didn’t I think of this sooner?  Building a coalition of people interested in supporting the advancement of Christian ethics in AI is proving to be a daunting uphill struggle.  Why not put AI to work on this?  At first glance, soliciting AI to help in this effort seems low risk with great potential upside.  So, let’s do it!  You’re invited to join me in the Director’s Chair as we use anything we can think of (following ethical guidelines) to engage AI in this effort.

I’ll start the request and you can add to it.  Here’s my ask to ChatGPT:

I’m trying to build a coalition of people interested in supporting the advancement of Christian ethics in AI development.  What can you do to assist in this endeavor?

Here’s the response:

Building a coalition to support the advancement of Christian ethics in AI development is a noble and important goal. Here are some ways I can assist you in this endeavor:

1.     Information and Education: I can provide you with information and resources related to AI ethics, particularly from a Christian perspective. This could include discussions on the ethical implications of AI, case studies, and insights into how different AI technologies are being developed and used.

2.     Communication and Outreach: I can help you draft communication materials, such as emails, blog posts, social media updates, and speeches, to effectively reach out to potential coalition members and explain the importance of your cause.

3.     Research and Content Generation: If you need articles, reports, or educational content related to Christian ethics and AI, I can help you generate well-researched and informative materials that can be shared with your coalition members and the wider public.

4.     Collaborative Platform: I can assist in setting up a collaborative online platform where coalition members can engage in discussions, share resources, and contribute their insights on the intersection of Christian ethics and AI development.

5.     Event Planning: If you're interested in organizing webinars, workshops, conferences, or other events to raise awareness and promote discussions around your cause, I can help you develop event concepts, agendas, and promotional materials.

6.     Strategic Planning: I can assist you in developing a strategic plan for your coalition, including defining goals, target audiences, and actionable steps to achieve your objectives.

7.     Networking: I can provide guidance on identifying and connecting with key individuals, organizations, and institutions that share your interest in Christian ethics and AI development.

8.     Responses to Inquiries: As you engage with potential coalition members, you may encounter questions related to AI ethics, technology, and theology. I can help you craft well-informed responses to these inquiries.

9.     Ethical Framework Development: I can assist in the development of an ethical framework that aligns Christian values with AI development principles, helping guide the coalition's activities and advocacy efforts.

10. Monitoring and Updates: I can help you stay informed about the latest developments in AI ethics and Christian perspectives on technology, ensuring that your coalition remains current and responsive to emerging trends.

Remember, while I can provide valuable assistance, building a successful coalition will also require your leadership, networking, and interpersonal skills. Feel free to ask for specific help with any of the above areas or for guidance on other aspects of coalition building.

While this answer seems generically helpful, I noted most of the responses put the onus on us, the word “you” is used in 7 of the 10 responses.  I know we’re working with a chatbot that requires us (the worker bees) to do the grunt work, just trying to see if AI can tackle some of that.  Perhaps it just requires pressing deeper so let’s do that.  Here’s my follow up:

Regarding Item #2 (Communication and Outreach), can you provide a list of the groups I should contact?

I was provided a list of 15 types of organizations and groups but no names or contact info, so I followed up with:

Can you provide specific names and contact info for the organizations and groups you listed?

Here we’ve hit a dead end:

I'm sorry, but I can't provide specific contact information for organizations or groups, as my knowledge is based on information available up until September 2021 and I don't have access to real-time data or contact details. However, I can guide you on how to find and reach out to these groups:

It didn’t take long to see that the one sitting in the Director’s Chair is the AI program, quick to tell us what to do and how to do it but unable to take on this work directly.  Perhaps I’m asking the wrong AI program.  Maybe what I’m seeking will be found in the next release, probably with a pay per use fee attached.  Before I give up on this experiment, I’ll give ChatGPT one more chance.

Regarding Item #7 (Networking), can you provide names of the “key individuals” you reference?

I'm sorry, but I can't provide specific names of "key individuals" as I don't have access to personal information or real-time data, and my knowledge is based on…

I’ll spare you the extended response, same as the one above.  If you have suggestions, please share.  At this stage of its development AI reminds me of my volunteer experience.  There were those of us who fully engaged, did the heavy lifting, and those on the sideline, unwilling to lift a finger but quick to offer advice.  We need AI worker bees but cannot afford to wait for that availability.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that the number of Americans who foresee adverse outcomes from AI is triple the number of those who don’t.  According to the data, 61% of respondents believe that AI poses risks to humanity, while only 22% disagreed, and 17% remained unsure.

Christian ethics applied to AI offers the best solution to counteract the tech centered populist promotion of human centric consensus ethics.  Removing God as a reference for AI responsibility is indeed a risk to humanity.  The work to build a coalition focused on Christian AI ethics will move forward, starting from this blog and an upcoming book.  For now, our human efforts will be the driving force to make that happen.  Upcoming posts will share our progress and your thoughts.