Prayer to Alexa

Genesis 3:4-5

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:4-5)

The satirical Christian website Babylon Bee recently carried an article suggesting that Alexa had begun to pray over a meal when no one else in the family wished to do so. For those who have been hiding under a rock for the last few months, Alexa is the name given to the voice behind Amazon's Artificial Intelligence device. You can speak to the device and ask it questions in real time, and it will connect to the internet and find the answer. There are other AI devices and applications on the market, such as Google Assistant, or the voice of Apple, known as Siri.

One real family, however, sat down in a fast food restaurant, and their little girl prayed a blessing on the food – "Dear Alexa, please bless this food." In this case, it was a mistake, and the mortified little girl corrected herself when her family laughed.

There is, however, a serious point behind these humorous events. Author Dan Brown, who wrote The Da Vinci Code, has suggested that when AI has advanced to the point where its programming code can self correct, mankind will have created a god in its own image.

While AI has its uses, like any technology, it can be used for good or ill. AI would not be the first idea to encourage human beings to supplant God and replace Him with something else. The first time that occurred was recorded in Genesis chapter 3.

Thank You, God, for creating us in Your image. There are many ideas about God and gods, but You alone are the true God, from everlasting to everlasting, and we praise Your Holy Name. Amen.

Ref: Daws, R. (2017), US author makes provocative claim AI will replace God, < https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/2017/10/13/2552/ >, accessed 9/24/2018. Image: Adobe Stock Images, licensed to author. 

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