What Does It Mean to Be Human?
By Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain
Artificial intelligence programs, such as ChatGPT, are designed to converse, answer questions, and formulate written responses in a range of genres. They provide opportunities and challenges for places of learning. Radford's Director of Digital Learning and Innovation, Lisa Plenty, has previously commented on ChatGPT from an educational perspective.
One of the things that I noticed when using ChatGPT (not to write this article, I might add!) was the way the wait time and the adaptiveness of responses mimicked a human-to-human interaction. This is an intentional feature as the model is programmed to dialogue in a conversational way, indeed to 'chat'.
For those of us who live with Alexa or Siri, this style of interaction is not unusual. It does, however, raise questions about what makes human-to-human interactions unique and the broader question - what does it mean to be human?
The answer to these questions is multifaceted. In relation to ChatGPT, artists such as Nick Cave have made the point that ChatGPT cannot appreciate beauty, feel suffering or harness creativity, all of which are an intrinsic part of what it means to be human.
Radford’s Anglican identity has something to add to this conversation. Jewish and Christian scripture tells us that to be human is to have received the breath and the image of God (Genesis 1:26, Genesis 2:7).
In the person of Jesus Christ, the central figure of the Christian faith, the human and divine meet in a unique way. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, humanity is offered a new way of relating to God and to each other. A way marked by faith, love, grace, forgiveness, justice, and hope.
To see the dignity of the other is part of the call of God to love. Closer to home, we see the work that Lifeline Canberra and Companion House do to meet the needs of people in our community. Further afield, we pray for and support those who have had their lives completely upended in Turkey, Syria, Ukraine, Myanmar, and other places.
A prayer for Turkey and Syria can be found on the World Vision UK website. World Vision Australia is one of the organisations that has launched an appeal to respond to the humanitarian crisis.
The invitation is to lean deeply into our humanity and the humanity of others. May we also lean deeply into God in whose image we are made and whose breath we receive.
Next Wednesday, the season of Lent begins. Lent is the six weeks of preparation for Easter. It is a time for drawing closer to God, giving, self-reflection and growing in faith. All are invited to an Ash Wednesday service in the Radford Chapel at 4 pm on Wednesday, 22 February.
Blessings for the week ahead.
In case you missed Associate Chaplain Andy Fleming's article last week on the Eden Canoes project, you can read it here.