3 Things Robots Can Never Do
How Intelligent Machines Fall Short
By Capazin Thornton
Robots Galore
Robots are everywhere. Intel.com says the artificial intelligence era is here. “Machines that can sense, reason, and act will accelerate solutions to large-scale problems in a myriad of fields, including science, finance, medicine, and education, augmenting human capability and helping us to go further, farther, faster.”
I am reminded that the angel Gabriel revealed to the prophet Daniel that at the end of days before Christ returns, knowledge would increase.
Knowledge is being multiplied at an unprecedented rate. Quantum leaps in technology in the last 100 years make the previous 4000 years seem primitive. A few years ago, we were amazed by smartphones, smart cars, the internet, and social media. Now, robots are in our homes and workplaces.
Robots in the Movies
I grew up watching science fiction movies. Who can forget the cute little robots, C-3PO and R2-D2, in Star Wars (1977)? (I stood in line for hours in West Los Angeles to see that one) Or David, a life-like robot in A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)?
Then there are the evil robots. Machines with artificial intelligence that want to wipe out humanity, e.g., the Terminator (1984).
While people were watching movies about robots, techno geniuses and science gurus were busy trying to perfect them.
Today, life, art, and machines are merging together. We need to ask ourselves, what is really going on?
God is left out of the picture
Do you know what is missing from techno geniuses’ and science gurus’ vision of the future? God!
I am also reminded of Genesis 11. Three generations after the great flood, where only eight people were saved, Noah’s offspring began building a city and tower they planned to reach heaven. God disrupted their plans. He confused their language. He then scattered them across the face of the earth. (Gen. 11:1-9)
The tower of Babel was a monument to man’s pride and vanity. It was a conspiracy to live independent of God. Just like artificial intelligence is today.
I know many of you think A.I. is fantastic. But let’s hold it up to the light of God’s Word.
3 Things Robots Can Never Do
They can never achieve immortality
On June 25, 2017, 60 Minutes did a piece on Sophia, a human-like robot. Sophia can learn through experience and think for herself. Sophia’s goal is to be smarter than humans and become immortal.
News Flash: Neither humans nor machines can achieve immortality.
Immortality (eternal life) is God’s free gift to whoever will receive His Son as Savior and Lord.
Robots can never commune with God
God created humans with spirit, soul, and body. Robots are manufactured machines. They are not sentient because they have neither soul nor spirit. Thus, they can never commune with God.
Robots can never replace the value of a human
God created humans in His image. Humans have emotional, spiritual, and intellectual power that can only come from the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God. We can understand, feel, discern, and know intuitively. And God has put eternity—a call to Himself—in our hearts. (Eccl. 3:11)
Robots can be helpful in many ways. However, they will never be like humans made in God’s image.
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