Editor’s Word: Our January 2025 mini-series on the BCC Grace and Fact weblog addresses life in an AI-driven world. On this ultimate article, Keith Evans discusses the usage of AI in lecturers. In different contributions to the sequence, Rush Witt considers how AI can function a worthwhile instrument within the Christian life, and Joe Keller gives concerns for parenting effectively in an age of AI.
Development Is Inevitable
Technological progress is an unavoidable a part of life. Every new innovation—particularly transformative ones—tends to impress alarm, with fears of industries being upended or displaced. Whereas disruptions can happen (and have!), the core rhythms of life and biblical requirements stay unchanged. We’re nonetheless known as to pursue holiness and excellence in all areas of life earlier than the Lord.
This holds true for Synthetic Intelligence (AI), significantly in tutorial pursuits. Many fear that AI will considerably disrupt training. And whereas we’re witnessing a revolution corresponding to the meeting line or the rise of the Web, this doesn’t sign the demise of non-public effort, creativity, or ingenuity in lecturers. The appearance of AI doesn’t scale back humanity to merely regurgitating info or the reliance on language fashions for creativity.
The Glory of Kings
Laziness and dishonesty have at all times been temptations, together with the temptation to move off another person’s work as our personal. This has existed for the reason that starting of time—even in Genesis 3, Devil twisted God’s fact for his personal functions. But Scripture calls us to dwell within the mild (1 John 1:7), take satisfaction in our personal work (Gal. 6:4), and work wholeheartedly for the glory of the Lord (Col. 3:23) no matter the kind of effort (1 Cor. 10:31).
This is applicable to tutorial discovery and creation. Proverbs 25:2 reminds us, “It’s the glory of God to hide a matter; to go looking out a matter is the glory of kings.” There may be profound pleasure in uncovering fact, making new discoveries, and drawing significant conclusions.
Imitate Your Creator
The inventive life mirrors the character of our Creator. God calls us to greater than repetition—He calls us to originality. We’ve all skilled lifeless training targeted solely on memorizing info and dates. Such an strategy strips the enjoyment out of studying. In distinction, a passionate trainer can convey historical past to life, displaying how God has written“His story” throughout time, guiding His folks by means of historical past’s twists and turns. This identical perspective applies to all fields of research: lecturers ought to be a pursuit of understanding God’s work on this planet, not a dull recitation of knowledge.
Cite Your Sources
A brand new instrument comes alongside—such because the calculator, and the abacus goes the best way of the buffalo—however logic and arithmetic endure. A brand new instrument has arrived, however the creation of AI doesn’t mark the top of educational progress.
As an alternative, AI has the flexibility to enhance lecturers. It’s going to streamline analysis, however that analysis nonetheless have to be overseen by people. Creativity, group, and clear communication stay important duties for students and college students alike, even when AI assists within the gathering or manufacturing of that data.
Above all, tutorial integrity is a non-negotiable within the Christian worldview. Simply as we credit score the work of others in all of our writing, utilizing AI responsibly means acknowledging its contributions by means of correct quotation.[1]
Pursue Excellence Earlier than Your God
Human creativity displays the picture of our Creator God. We stand on the shoulders of those that got here earlier than us, utilizing the sources they’ve supplied, from historic writings to fashionable applied sciences. As we enter a brand new period, believers are known as to keep up integrity and excellence of their academic and tutorial endeavors. With advancing instruments at our disposal, our mission stays unchanged: to pursue holiness, creativity, and tutorial excellence earlier than the face of our God.
Questions for Reflection
- What are the temptations we uniquely face as AI continues to enhance and increase?
- Apart from citing our sources, how else may we “present our work” after we use the advantages of AI?
- As an alternative of approaching AI in training and scholarship from a posture of concern, how may we strategy it from an angle of religion: that of thankfulness to God?
[1] AI was used within the creation of this text, however primarily for illustration functions so I may cite this supply. ChatGPT was used for minor grammatical suggestions all through.
