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Impressive intelligence

‘Wandered lost in nights so black. 
Now I am sure, no turning back. 

Jesus, lift my soul so high. 
Break my chains, let me fly-y-y-y…’ 

With these lines, Ed Sheeran has seemingly joined Job and David on the long list of lyricists credited with verses that turn from lament to praise. 

Yet Sheeran cannot be credited with them at all. Truthfully, the voice isn’t even his. Instead, this is the work of producer Evan Tunes. The whole video hit was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI). It’s not catchy, but it certainly is impressive. 

Music is far from the only thing that AI can do impressively these days. In a landmark speech this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer touted several other uses. Healthcare could be transformed and the sick could be cared for faster and more efficiently. AI could boost a sluggish economy, driving higher living standards for all.  

Starmer, at least, believes ‘Britain should be excited by this.’ But should we be? 

Certainly, better care for the sick reflects the heart of Christ. Economic growth, by no means a panacea, allows better funding for various forms of support to those who need it most. 

But there must also be questions. For one, where is the integrity in claiming credit for art that is machine generated? In a world overloaded with information, AI-made content further muddies our impressions of what’s true and what isn’t.  

How can AI generation fit into a world that was made through and for a relational God, in whom all things hold together (Colossians 1:15–16)?   

How can we, who bear his image, seek to steward AI to augment rather than distort and replace the created order (Genesis 1:26–28)?  

AI might not (yet) be a feature of our day-to-day. Its celebrated impact on our public services and economy must surely, studiously, be welcomed. Increasingly, however, the power of AI is becoming accessible to all. Our use of AI mustn’t result in impressive lies, be they to write essays or to impersonate Ed Sheeran, or worse. Such artifice risks obscuring the image of God in creation. 

Paul reminds us not to suppress God’s revealed truth. ‘Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made’ (Romans 1:20). 

Instead, let us prayerfully seek to create and to steward creation as it reveals the image of the creator God. 

This article was not written using AI.

Alastair Atkinson  
Alastair studied theology at St Mellitus College and is a political consultant. 

For some brilliant thoughts on similar themes, from the 2024 John Stott London Lecture, see Prof. John Wyatt’s address on ‘Authentic Relationships in an Artificial World’. 

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