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Artificial Intelligence and the Old Testament

  • Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies
  • Abbr : KJOTS
  • 2022, 28(4), pp.187-214
  • DOI : 10.24333/jkots.2022.28.4.187
  • Publisher : Korean Society of Old Testament Studies
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology
  • Received : October 15, 2022
  • Accepted : November 19, 2022

KIM CHANGJOO 1

1한신대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Artificial Intelligence (AI) started with a question of Alan Turing (1950), “Can a machine think like human does? Since year of 1956 John McCarthy coined allegedly Artificial Intelligence at Dartmus Forum, AI rapidly has progressed. It is wonder how far AI, a leading edge of modern ICT, will be developing from now on. According to Judaism, Golem is a kind of primitive AI. Golem is premature state before it was born (Ps 139:16). Yet it is an unperfect and creature without spirit nor living soul. Golem is similar to robot and AI that are hot issue nowadays. During the medieval time Golem did serve Jewish people but sometimes offended humans. Like AI it was unsafe creature. When the Singularity of AI comes does people enjoy with AI and are they happy for a victory of technology? Erik Brynjolfsson raises a question: Does AI give us automation, or augmentation? His question lets us reflect on AI theological or humanities approaches. ANI has already surpassed human capacity, such as Deep Blure (chess), Watson (Jeopardy!), Alpha Go (Go), etc. Thus, OT theology has to propose spiritual nonlineal paradigm of theology rather than linear scientific logic of technology. If human is confined to machines automation, s/he is prone to be enslaved to machines. In order not to be enslaved to AI human literacy is absolutely needed. In the era of AI mechanical repeat or automatical response is no more necessary, but augumentation and growth of spiritual and thinking are aimed at future life. Since Galilei Galileo and Charles Darwin Christianity has faced the biggest threat and dangerous challenge. If AI substitutes human sooner or later, phenomena of de-churched will be accelerating. A raid of robot and ICT, what does the Old Testaments (OT) say to AI, what is the ultimate goal of technology? What does AI have to the OT? The OT is explained not as mechanical logic, but as block logic with exponential jump. Another point is that OT understands human beings as ‘living documents.’ This is a privilege which is not allowed to machine. Now it is time to dialogue between OT and scientific community. “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came” (Isa. 66:7) Golem can be probably born. “Apocalypse AI” (Robert M. Geraci) will lead a future of human beings, but theology should precede like the Tabernacle in the desert.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.