The 30-second practice leading me to I AM rather than AI

You shall have no other gods before me. (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭3‬)

I'm using AI every day to do my most exceptional work for the glory of God and the good of others. But four years into the latest generation of these tools, I've seen enough peril in my own use of them to feel the need to articulate some biblical guardrails around how to use AI in God-honoring ways.

In this series, I’ll share five such guardrails that extend beyond the obvious black and white “don'ts” of AI (EX: feeding AI confidential information, using it to spread disinformation, etc.). These five guardrails will focus on the less obvious, far more common, and in many cases, far more dangerous ways AI can pull us away from God and others.

Before we get to the first guardrail, a very brief theology of technology is in order. Throughout Scripture, we see that God loves technology, which Bible teacher Tony Reinke defines as “the reordering of raw materials for human purposes,” which is exactly what God created us to do in Genesis 1:26-28.

Then, when the Word became flesh, he entered our world as a technologist of sorts. The Greek word we translate to mean “carpenter” to describe Jesus’s occupation is tekton—the same root word we use for technology.

But as with everything after the Fall, the very good of technology can quickly become very corrupt. My friends at Praxis point out that since Genesis 3, human beings have been on a “quest to secure good things for ourselves through some form of pure technique [including technology] that does not require relationship—with others or with God.”

Which is part of why we need the law and the reminder that what is best for us is to “have no other gods before” the Lord. The first commandment is a call to refuse to replace a relationship with God with a relationship with any created thing. 

But don't miss how that law was delivered. God didn't speak it from a burning bush or whisper it in a dream. He wrote it on stone tablets, the most ancient form of technology (Exodus 31:18).

Here’s my point: God is not anti-technology; he is pro-relationships. Because what you and I need most is not productivity but his presence. That brings me to our first biblical guardrail for working with AI…

Guardrail #1: Do not use AI as a replacement for relationships with God and others.

The second you and I have a need for help or wisdom today, my temptation—and I think your temptation—is to bow my head to the AI apps on my phone rather than bow my head to the great I AM in prayer. Here’s one practical way I’m guarding against this. 

Next to the ChatGPT app on my phone I have added this little prayer icon. That way, every time I’m tempted to replace my relationship with Almighty Intelligence for a relationship with artificial intelligence, this visual cue leads me to pray. This has been a total game-changer for me and it takes less than 30 seconds to set up as you’ll see in this video. Give it a shot.

Pastor Paul David Tripp says that “to forget God is to forsake God.” Do whatever you need to not let AI lead you to forsake God and others today.