Now there is no way to definitively prove—or disprove—the
existence of a soul for an AI. If I cannot know that, do
AIs even need to be “saved”? For the concept of a sin nature is
frequently tied to our spiritual state, that is, our soul.
While I cannot prove AIs would have a sin nature any more
than I can prove that they would have a soul, AIs would be patterned after humanity—who
is flawed and imperfect. It is unlikely that humanity would be able to program
around our inclination toward sin. As a result, AIs may not have a sin nature,
per se, but the probability is high that their programming would permit them to
deliberately choose a course of action contrary to God’s law and therefore sin.
As James reminds us, a person who has broken the law in one point has become a
lawbreaker and is guilty of violating the whole (James 2:8-11).
But even if “perfection” was somehow obtained in theory, AIs would still be confined to this world, the whole
of which has been tainted by sin not of its own fault. This is why Paul says in
Romans 8:20-22, “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own
choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation
itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the
glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has
been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” So
AIs would need “saving” from humanity’s sin along with the rest of creation.
And with this we see that we have
been asking the wrong question again. The question should not be whether
an AI can sin or whether he has a sin nature or even whether he needs saving.
Rather the question should be why would an AI need
faith?
This is where Hebrews 11 comes
into focus once more. In verse 6 it is proclaimed that “anyone who comes
to [God] must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly
seek him.” Those actions would be possible for any AI who has a will. And not
only is it possible, it would be necessary, for “without faith it is impossible
to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) So for AIs to be
pleasing to God, they would need faith, and if they don’t have faith, they
would displease God—therefore sinning and being in need of faith to be
saved.
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