Masters or Slaves?: AI And The Future Of Humanity

The rapid increase in computer power and availability of personal data has led to the widespread deployment of AI around the world, creating ethical dilemmas such as data privacy, influence on our personhood, moral agency, and impact on work. "Masters or Slaves? lays a theological and ethical foundation for our response by considering what the Bible teaches about our being made in God's image, moral responsibility, the dignity of work, and idolatry. A framework for evaluating the impact of AI is proposed, using a taxonomy of applications and a virtue approach. The book concludes with a 'Christian manifesto for AI.'

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 21 January 2021
Publisher: Inter-Varsity Press

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has captured the imagination of sci-fi writers and popular authors alike, with predictions of AI surpassing human intelligence. This surge in computer power and access to vast amounts of personal data has led to the widespread deployment of AI across various industries and sectors. The significant uptake of this technology has raised a host of ethical dilemmas, including data privacy, freedom, the influence of AI on our personhood, the use of human-like digital agents, the assignment of moral agency to self-driving vehicles, and the impact on work.

In response to these ethical challenges, we must determine whether we will become slaves to or masters of this technology. Masters or Slaves? provides a theological and ethical foundation for our response by exploring what the Bible teaches about our creation in God's image, moral responsibility, the dignity of work, and idolatry. The book proposes a framework for evaluating the impact of AI, starting with a taxonomy of applications that reflects different influences and challenges to humanness. A virtue approach is employed to guide our responses as individuals and as a society.

The book concludes with a series of propositions that serve as a 'Christian manifesto for AI.' These propositions emphasize the importance of ethical considerations in the development and deployment of AI, the need for transparency and accountability, and the importance of preserving human values and dignity in the age of AI.

In conclusion, Artificial Intelligence presents both opportunities and challenges for society. By grounding our response in theological and ethical principles, we can navigate these challenges and ensure that AI is developed and deployed in a way that benefits humanity and aligns with our values.

Weight: 336g
Dimension: 139 x 214 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789742398