For those wondering what to make of AI, 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity by the brilliant John C. Lennox offers a great overview of the field and a well-though-out biblical response to the claims of AI proponents about its ability to transform humanity.

Lennox begins with two basic questions: where did humanity come from and where is it going. Although it isn’t obvious, these are important questions as we look at AI. He then introduces the two forms of Artificial Intelligence, narrow AI, and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Narrow AI applies AI to a specific task, such as suggesting links on a social media page. AGI refers to superintelligent AI that is not limited to specific tasks. Lennox points out that we are very, very far from actually developing AGI, and that there are good reasons to doubt whether it is even possible.

Lennox discusses in some detail the pros and cons of narrow AI. It can help tremendously in fields like medicine, but it also makes possible a Chinese-style surveillance state and Social Credit system. He then tackles AGI and the dreams and goals of its proponents. Some literally believe once superintelligent AGI emerges, we will have created God. Others see it as the ultimate totalitarian nightmare. Still others tie it to transhumanism as the next step in evolution and a means to give us immortality.

All of these ideas assume a materialistic worldview—that matter and energy are all that exists. This is a questionable assumption at best. Among other problems, Lennox points out that you can convey the same information via multiple media. It doesn’t matter whether the information is given orally or in writing, and if written, it doesn’t matter if it is written on papyrus, paper, vellum, or on a computer screen. This shows that information is independent of the physical medium that conveys it, and thus is not itself material. This poses a serious problem for AGI that is not generally recognized.

In the last several chapters of the book, Lennox returns to his original questions, where we came from and where we’re going. He explains that Genesis offers a far more coherent account of our origins and the problems we face than materialism does. He also shows that Christianity offers to those who come to Christ all of the things that AGI enthusiasts dream of: perfect health, an end to suffering and death, and immortality in a body superior to our own.

In short, the book offers a level headed assessment of the benefits and dangers of AI, critiquing the hype while recognizing its value, and places the whole discussion in a context framed by the biblical worldview. Like all of Lennox’s books, it’s well written and a pretty quick read. I highly recommend it.

Purchasing the book through this link will generate a commission for Every Square Inch Ministries.