Technology - I Won't Let You Down
In the
summer of 2008, I attended a lecture on artificial intelligence and Christian
faith at Cambridge
University. At the C.S.
Lewis Conference's annual Summer Institutes, Nigel Cameron of Washington's Center
for Policy on Emerging Technology gave us a cursory glimpse of some of the
fast-developing advancements in the field of A.I. His primary purpose was to introduce and to
explain a few of the real and challenging ethical dilemmas that these
technologies were posing for researchers, academic institutions, and political
bodies. For those of us who were on the outside looking in, it was almost a bit
surreal. First, the technologies that were already being developed sounded like
they were coming out of a sci-fi novel. It was hard to believe that we would
see some of these things in our lifetime. However, we were told and we are now
seeing that technology is advancing far faster than most of our imaginations. Second,
and probably for the reason that the advancements seemed so futuristic to our
ears, the ethical issues and the dangers attending these developments, also
seemed incredible.
Well, in
the past few weeks, I have encountered a couple of things that have definitely
confirmed the words of that lecture. First, one of Cambridge's most famous professors, Stephen
Hawking gave a stark warning about where A.I. is headed in the not so distant
future (Hawking on the
end of the human race). He predicts the possibility of the end of humanity
in a generation. For most people, the thought that machines can be given brains
that will easily outsmart the human race sounds really far-fetched. However, it
is not fiction. It is in the works.
Second, I
remember being encouraged by one possibility that was in development in Japan at that
time. Honda was working on designing a wheel chair that you could control with
your mind. I thought "Wouldn't that be great. People without mobility
could just think where they wanted to go and they could get there." Then, a
few weeks ago, I saw this video by the pop group, "OK Go" (I Won't Let You Down video).
The main star in the video was Honda's UniCub
chair. It is controlled by your thoughts. You can see the technology
demonstrated and explained in the first part of this behind the scenes
interview. I do hope that this does
make life a great deal easier for people whose lives are severely restricted by
disabilities.
It was a
bit ironic for me that my discovery of this remarkable technological feat was
in a music video that repeatedly and repeatedly and repeatedly sings the
statement "I won't let you down."
(If you didn't click on the video above, just go do it for one minute, and you
will know what I mean.) If anything, technology has become the god of our age.
We are enthralled with it. We are increasingly dependent upon it. We can't wait
for the next Apple product announcement. We watch with amazement as pictures
are beamed back from before unimaginable places in space. Maybe, we can find a
new world, a new home, or many new unpolluted, war-free, uninhabited planet
paradises somewhere out there. We hope in science for the discovery to cure all
our diseases. Maybe, we can even end death itself so we freeze our bodies and
hope for that day. It is as if our generation looks at these rapid advancements
in technology and we sing the words of the old Christmas hymn: "The hopes and fears of all the years, are
met in thee tonight." We are banking on technology to come through for
us.
Well, I am
hoping that the warnings of Dr. Hawking, and all the realities of our
technological age might bring us to a necessary awakening, by the grace of God.
Technology can be and is being used for good. However, it will not replace the
need for a real Saviour. Technology, as we know, can be a tool for great evil.
The greedy get richer. The violent get more dangerous. The technology itself
may turn out to be the Enemy which brings it all to a quick and unavoidable
end.
To go back
to OK Go's music video, the other line that keeps being repeated is this one:
"Maybe you just need someone to
trust? Maybe you just need someone to trust?" So, where do we end up
with all this technological advancement? We end up back at the beginning. We
need Someone who we really can trust. We need Someone bigger than technology to
guide the hearts and minds of those who handle it all. We need Someone who
really can give life and who won't turn on us when we trust in Him. We need
Someone who loves us and, rather than destroying us, lays down His life for our
healing, forgiving, and eternal future. We need Someone who really can make
everything out of nothing and who will actually make everything new for our
good.
Technology
is a tool but it isn't our Saviour. The only Saviour of the world is the Son of
the Creator of the entire universe. He alone can change our hearts, heal our
diseases, raise the dead, rule the world, and make it all brand new. The gospel
John reads "In the beginning was the
Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the
beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not
anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of
men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."[1] The
hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight. Who do you
trust?
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