Artificial Intelligence and Truth

In the last few weeks there has been a lot of hoopla about AI (artificial intelligence). The very name “artificial” intelligence is telling. Artificial lemon flavoring means it tastes like lemons, but it is not real lemons. Perhaps AI is not real intelligence at all. Anything with the fingerprint of man has the potential for a bad purpose even though it was brought forth with the best of intentions. It appears that AI in some cases is already fabricating lies (misinformation if you please).

When Jesus stood before Pontus Pilate before his soon crucifixion, this short discussion arose over truth:

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. / Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all” (John 18:37-38 NKJV, emphasis mine).

We cannot be sure of all that Pilate was asking (What is truth?), but in the context, you catch a sniff of his skepticism about the reality of any truth.

For several decades in our past, many had the thought that there was no objective truth outside of science or mathematics. They thought it was ancient superstition to believe the truth of the Bible and the morality it taught. Even in secular culture, many thought right and wrong was totally the whim of the current belief—there was no concrete right or wrong. They believed the truth was fluid.

ABSOLUTE PARADOX 
It is laughable that a philosopher would say with absolute certainty
that there is no absolute truth.

In the last few years, some folks have evolved from the concept of proven truth into felt-truth—truth is what they feel as the truth. Truth has become something as one thinks regardless of any provable data. Today truth is one thing, next year it may be something very different with no consequences of ever being wrong.

Suddenly, we have such terms as misinformation or disinformation based on who is telling the information. It has little to do with actual truth because it changes on the whims of people, not reality. I am not sure of what universe some folks are living in.

Another aspect of perceived truth in our day depends on the belief of the majority. Just because seventy-five percent of people believe something does not make it true. How often in the history of the world did folks go along with the current lie masquerading as truth? Such things as slavery, genocide, persecutions, inquisitions, etc. were seen as acceptable based on people’s corrupted truth of the time. History demonstrates many instances when the majority was horribly wrong! Accepted science of yesteryears are myths today. What about our present day accepted truths? Hmm!

There is a transcendental truth that is beyond man’s concept of truth or man’s accepted truth. God is the source of all truth. We say that it is impossible for humans to know the exact number of grains of sand on the earth, yet God knows. He knows the number of hairs on everyone’s head (cf. Matthew 10:30). God also made and knows the number of stars; He even knows them all by name (cf. Psalms 147:4).

I believe God is omniscient, meaning He is all-knowing. He knows everything about all the truth. His knowledge yet to be communicated to man is called a mystery. His mysterious knowledge delivered to man is called revelation. He has communicated much to man in His Word, and it is truth. The Bible is the most verified document on Earth.

REVISED BUMPER STICKER
There used to be a bumper sticker with good intentions that read:
"God said it, I believe it, and that settles it!"

I prefer:
"God said it, and that settles it!"

We live in a time where there are evil forces of demonic nature trying to redefine truth and realities that have stood for millenniums. It is an evil strategy to uproot real truths to plant false-truths with the intent to destroy all that God holds dear. Satan is hell-bent on stealing, killing, and destroying all that has the fingerprint of God.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Words of Jesus; John 10:10). When we veer from God’s standard, destruction comes, resulting in harm to individuals, breakdown of family structures, and eventual societal declines and chaos.

Personally, I would never say that I know all the truth. However, I do know the One who knows all the truth! Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

WHAT DO WE DO?
Learn the truth of God's Word.
Believe what you learn.
Speak what you believe.
When confronted with speaking the truth;
Do not back down but double down.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Yours on the Journey,

Harry L. Whitt