The BBC carried the following headlines in a news report:
PM plans to ‘unleash AI’ across UK to boost growth
Whenever the supporters of AI begin to pontificate on the topic of their latest fantasy, they sound like a recital from a science fiction comic!
It is the ‘be all and end all’ of man’s fondest dream! Supporters of AI would have us believe that it will usher in a utopian era, BUT will it??
BBC commentators, Liv McMahon, Zoe Kleinman & Charlotte Edwards had some words of warning for the Prime Minister!
“But the government faces questions over how much time and money will be needed to make its vision a reality, amid concerns over borrowing costs and the falling value of the pound.”
“The government tasked AI adviser Matt Clifford with creating a UK action plan for supporting the growth of artificial intelligence and its use in public services.
He came back with 50 recommendations which are now being implemented.
Among these is for the UK to invest in a new supercomputer to boost computing power – marking a change in strategy after the Labour government ditched the previous government’s plans for a supercomputer at Edinburgh University.
Sir Keir said AI ‘will drive incredible change’ in the country and ‘has the potential to transform the lives of working people’.
‘We’re going to make AI work for everyone in our country,” he added, saying the “battle for the jobs of tomorrow is happening today’.
“Sir Keir said the UK would become one of the AI “superpowers” – mirroring former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s drive to boost the UK sector so it could rival that of the US and China.”
The article goes on to set out: _
How the AI plan could affect you
Among the government’s proposals are:
AI will be used by the public sector to enable its workers to spend less time doing admin and more time delivering services.
Several ‘AI Growth Zones’ around the UK will be created, involving big building projects and new jobs.
AI will be fed through cameras around the country to inspect roads and spot potholes that need fixing
Teachers and small business owners were highlighted as two groups that could start using AI for things like faster planning and record-keeping.
AI is already being used in UK hospitals for important tasks such as diagnosing cancer more quickly and it will continue to be used to support the NHS.”
REALLY! If everything becomes as ‘efficient’ as the NHS is at present then we really are in for a bright future!!!!
A further comment within the article states:
AI ‘not perfect’
“There are continuing questions over the risks of introducing AI systems that can “hallucinate” or make things up, or discriminate against certain groups of people due to bias.
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said ‘we’re only at the foothills of this’ and AI was a developing technology.”
Titanic
I feel that this is a ‘maiden voyage’ that will become even more infamous than that of the ’Titanic’!
There are those who would believe that we actually have an ‘AI created government at present under the leadership of an AI generated ‘Automaton’ installed in 10 Downing Street’!!
But then, could even AI make such a mistake as to create a ‘Sir Keir’ ??
Over the Horizon
AI is not a mere upgrading of ‘the Internet’. It is the installation of a technology far beyond anything experienced by society before and has ‘over the horizon’ implications, with possible consequences far beyond the calculations of its exponents. Apple’s ‘experimentation with it has created problems for the ’Tech Giant’.
The same three BBC commentators in another story said this: “Apple is facing fresh calls to withdraw its controversial artificial intelligence (AI) feature that has generated inaccurate news alerts on its latest iPhones.
The product is meant to summarise breaking news notifications but has in some instances invented entirely false claims.” (Apple urged to withdraw ‘out of control’ AI news alerts)
What saith the Scriptures?
For the Christian, the instinctive reaction to such an announcement by the Government is to consult the Word of God.
Has it anything to say on this subject?
I believe that nothing will take place in the experience of mankind that is not directly referred to or is touched upon in principle, within the Holy Scriptures.
Babel
There is one passage that comes to mind.
“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do,” Genesis 11:1-6.
Please note the Lord’s observation regarding man’s plans at the city of Babel (verse 9). “And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”
The purpose of the building of the city and the tower by these ‘unrestrained’ men was to defy God’s command given to Noah, “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,” Genesis 9:1. They also intended to replace the worship of Him by idolatry.
Thinking Outside the Box
Man, because of his fallen, depraved nature, is ever inclined to ‘think outside the box’, that is, the ‘box’ of moral boundaries God has instituted for mankind.
Thus our governments, past and present, have institutionalised that which is in complete defiance of the guidelines instituted by God.
Idolatry, divorce, polygamy, sodomy, abortion, rebelliousness in the home and on the street and a myriad of other manifestations of man’s depravity abound. Pressure is mounting in the UK for it to go the way of Canada and legalise cannabis, which will, of course, prove to be but the ‘thin edge of the wedge’!
Such a move is but another step toward the arrival of that society depicted in Revelation, a society dominated by merchants trading in the use of drugs, merchants of whom it is said: “thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived,” Revelation 18:23.
The word ‘sorceries’ mentioned there is the Greek word, ‘pharmakeia’ from which we get ‘pharmacist’ and ‘pharmacy’.
It means ‘sorcery by the use or the administering of drugs’. It comes from a similar Greek word which means ‘spell-giving potion’.
It is the same Greek word that is translated in Galatians chapter 5. There it is translated as ‘witchcraft’.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God,” Galatians 5:19-21.
Human Trends
Man’s tendencies are made clear in this verse in Ecclesiastes. “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions,” 7:29.
Dr John Gill remarked on this verse: “Adam and Eve, not content with their present knowledge and happiness, they sought out new ways and means of being wiser and happier than God made them, or it was his will they should be. ‘They sought out the inventions of the many,’ or ‘great things’. . . They sought to be as wise as God himself.”
Following the Fallen Angels
Like the fallen angels, referred to by Jude, man has followed on in the depraved way of Adam, and has ever sought to ‘escape’ the confinements of God.
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day,” Jude 1:6.
This desire to escape from under God’s moral restraints is referred in Psalm 2. “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us,” verses 1-3.
The Final Apostasy
This rebelliousness will be manifested in the last days in its fulness. I have often quoted these words of Paul.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away,” 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Suicide
Here is human depravity in its suicidal attempt to be ‘free’ of God. I say ‘suicidal’ for it will bring eternal damnation upon those engaged in this final apostasy!
The cries of the rebels, recorded in Revelation 6:16-17, are born of the despairing realisation of their folly, and the damnation that it has resulted in is about to engulf them!
“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:15-17.
Thus the Lord records for the comfort of His people the ultimate outcome of the rebellion by sinners. He also does it to dissuade any from falling into the trap of believing that there is no profit in obeying God and that sin provides a better way!
Asaph foolishly entertained such doleful thoughts until grace rescued him. I can but quote all of his Psalm 73.
“«A Psalm of Asaph.» Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works,” Psalm 73:1-28.
There have been times when we all have engaged in the same foolish reasonings as did Asaph. We heeded what our eyes perceived and not what God has said!
At the close of this age, for three and a half years, Antichrist will defy God in a manner never before seen among men.
“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations,”Revelation 13:5-7.
The Antichrist will be able to do supernatural things.
This will cause men to marvel at the accomplishments of the Antichrist.
“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world (the prophetic earth) wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:3-4.
The companion in evil of the Antichrist is the ‘false prophet’.
He likewise is endued with Satanic power.
“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name,” Revelation 13:11-17.
Pictures
We should take note of the pictures God paints of the Antichrist and the false prophet. He employs animals to set forth the character of these two agents of hell.
The Antichrist is like a ‘leopard’, a ‘bear’, and a ‘lion’. These creatures denote beauty, strength and ferociousness.
The False Prophet is said to be like a ‘lamb’. He is like those men Paul warned about in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Both of these evil beings will have outward features which will charm and attract the affection of sinners.
Note
There are matters to be noted with regards the ‘supernatural’ things done by the Antichrist and his False Prophet as record in Revelation 13.
They will do many things that men before have done, though it likely will be to a greater degree. Christ spoke of this time in Matthew 24:21. “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations,” verses 5-7.
But they will do things that men HAVE NOT DONE BEFORE.
Foreshadowing
That future wicked time has been foreshadowed for us in the book of Exodus.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods,” Exodus 7:8-12.
“And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt,” Exodus 8:6-7.
I do not know what trickery was involved in the action of the magicians but I have no doubt that the devil is able, in a limited manner, to imitate the actions of God.
The ‘limits’ of the magicians of Egypt were seen in the ‘serpents’ being devoured by that of Moses and also on other occasions. The magicians could only add to misery of the plague of frogs brought by Moses by adding more, Exodus 8:7.
When Moses caused lice to plague the land, the magicians once more tried to equal God’s power. “And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.” Exodus 8:18.
Note the supernatural things, which will in that future day, imitate the power of God. It will be a time of such permitted deception. “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty,” Revelation 16:14.
Again, it is to be noted that the devil’s exercise of power is but to bring about the destruction of his forces at the ‘the battle of that great day of God Almighty’!
Judas
As Judas Iscariot was permitted to live a deceitful life, betray the Saviour and bring about His crucifixion and thereby the redemption of God’s elect, so the Lord will ‘employ’ the rebellious actions of the devil and his allies to accomplish His will at the end of this age.
Peter referred to this wonderful sovereignty of God on the day of Pentecost.
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:22-24.
So it will be again!
“And he (the False Prophet) doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live,” Revelation 13:13-14.
But then there is something very strange which will take place.
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed,” Revelation 13:15.
The power to create life is God’s alone! “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand,” Deuteronomy 32:39.
“The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up,” 1 Samuel 2:6.
Man is presently seeking to be able to ‘create’ life. The research into ‘cloning’ is motivated by such a desire!
But AI may provide evil men with the ability to appear to be able to create life. Something similar to that is what already can be done by AI.
‘AI cloning technology also allows you to create visual representations of yourself. To create a 2D clone, an AI model takes an existing image of a person as input and generates a new image that mirrors their appearance. This process often involves encoding facial features, expressions, and textures.’
So says one website on the internet!
Again, the ‘mark of the beast’ may be a means of identifying and registering the population to a degree beyond what is presently possible. Already, the ‘authorities’ know where you are every minute of the day if you have a mobile phone.
Putting some sort of mark on us so that we can be easily traced, even as farm animals are presently so marked, is not that far away!
AI must be seen as being in the same category as abortion and as the other medical developments available whereby the consequences of immoral living can be avoided. The internet, with its useful means of communication, sadly is also an abominable means of promoting evil of every form and making easily available to young and old!
Eve “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat,” Genesis 3:6.
The world has reaped the sad harvest of that sinful desire ever since and billions will endure eternal damnation because of it.
I am inclined to think then that AI will prove to be ‘a mixed blessing’, if blessing at all! It will prove to be another venture with possibly some minor positives but with very far greater negative and harmful repercussions!
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
Wednesday 15th January 2025