*Gustave Doré’s, 1866 sketch “Joshua Burns the Town of Ai”(Wikipedia)*

The Bible refers to a place that was ruined in the Book of Joshua called "Ai." Are there any parallels to what is known as Artificial Intelligence (AI)? What did Joe Kovacs say about that? Are there any risks to AI, such as those warned about by Elon Musk? Are common AI sources like ChatGPT and Bing Ai always reliable? Are there certain passages in the Bible, such as prophecies related to the militaristic Beast and Antichrist in the Book of Revelation, that point to the use of AI in the end times? Is the use of computer software consistent with the prophecies of the 666 Beast power? Does the New Testament have warnings of impostors deceiving? Is it possible that demons and AI will be involved in the end time? Will the nations of this world fight Jesus upon His return? Could AI affect and deceive humans? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these matters.

A written article of related interest is available titled 'WND: Is AI mentioned in the Bible? Yes, with catastrophic results'

WND: Is AI mentioned in the Bible? Yes, with catastrophic results

COGwriter

A reader tipped me off to the following posted by World Net Daily:

Is AI mentioned in the Bible? Yes, with catastrophic results
May 21, 2023
The dangers of AI, or artificial intelligence, have been at the forefront of recent news headlines, with a large majority of Americans, as well as tech giants including Elon Musk, warning it could put humanity’s very existence on the verge of extinction. …
But might there be a biblical connection to AI?
The answer is yes, according to a popular author known for illuminating Scriptures.
“Ai is actually mentioned in the Bible,” says Joe Kovacs …
“No, it’s not an abbreviation for artificial intelligence. It’s a single word spelled A-i, and can be pronounced like each of its letters, as in ‘a’ and ‘i.’ …
“It’s the name of an ancient Canaanite city, and it packs an incredible significance for today when we examine Ai on the spirit or metaphor level. … the word ‘Ai,’ which can be translated as ‘Ruin‘ or ‘a heap of ruins.’
“That’s big hint No. 1, the fact that Ai actually means ruin or a heap of ruins, coming from a Hebrew verb meaning to bend, twist, pervert and distort, all leading to ruin,” Kovacs explains. …
“So Ai, the place of ruin, was closely associated with the house of vanity, nothingness, and plenty of trouble. That sounds a whole lot like our world today. …
According to Scripture, Ai was the next city after Jericho attacked by Joshua, whose name means ‘God saves,’ the same meaning as Yeshua or Jesus. … Ai, lives up to its name and becomes a complete ‘heap of ruins.’ Scripture goes out of its way to express that: ‘So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins.‘” (Joshua 8:28) …
“God may be using this ancient event as a divine hint, a physical example of what today’s AI may bring if artificial intelligence twists, distorts and perverts the truth.
“Our own vanity, the nothingness of our God-opposing arrogance, could make today’s world a permanent ruin and destroy humanity, just as Elon Musk is warning and most Americans believe. The end has been declared from the beginning.” https://www.wnd.com/2023/05/ai-mentioned-bible-yes-catastrophic-results/

Yes. there was a town called Ai that was destroyed. But Joshua did not succeed the first time:

2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the country.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. (Joshua 7:2-6)

Note that the children of Israel did not consider that Ai was much of a threat, but it was more powerful than it appeared to be. That has similarities to artificial intelligence–it does not look like much–it is only computer software–but many underestimate it.

That said, eventually Ai was destroyed–but at a cost.

Now as far as Elon Musk goes, he has warned about artificial intelligence for years. Here is an older video we put out related to him and AI:

15:30
Artificial Intelligence and Prophecy
Billionaire Elon Musk declared he was worried that artificial intelligence (AI) may lead to the rise of an “immortal dictator,” a “godlike” entity that could take over the world. Is this accurate, or at least, close in some ways? Does Bible prophecy foretell of the rise of an immoral leader who considers himself above all gods? Will this result in great destruction? What is AI? How might it fit in with various prophecies? Was the increase in technological knowledge we now have prophesied over 2000 years ago? Will 666’s control over buying and selling involve any form of AI? Dr. Thiel goes over many scriptures, including prophetic ones, that involve human knowledge–which is the basis of AI. He also points out that when various prophesies were made, there was no technology capable of fulfilling them, but that because of computers, such ability exists now. Dr. Thiel also points out what Jesus will do about it.
Here is a link: Artificial Intelligence and Prophecy.

Yes, there are risks with the wrong use of AI.

That said, there are several biblical prophecies I believe are supportive of the existence of computers in this age. Notice something from the Hebrews scriptures, also known as the Old Testament:

4 … Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. (Daniel 12:4)

Computers, followed by the internet and smart cellular telephones, have helped fulfill the above.

Is AI potentially dangerous? Is there a dark side?

Yes.

The reason is not the technology per se, the reason is that as human societies go more and more away from God’s standards of morality, they will use more things in a negative manner. Plus, in the case of AI programs like ChatGPT, they have been programmed with biases (e.g. watch ChatGPT and 666). Also, lately I and one of my sons have been testing ChatGPT as well as Bing AI and found them lacking, biased, and contradictory–and, often when challenged, they want to give up (as that is how Bing AI is programmed) as opposed to truly admitting their errors. The AI biases are dangerous–be careful about relying on AI conclusions.

The Apostle Paul warned the following related to the last days:

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come … 13 … evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:1,13)

AI looks to be part of that.

Yet, something that sound even more frightening will come–and AI looks like it will used related to it.

In both the Old and New Testaments, the Bible shows that a European dictator will rise up (Daniel 11:21-44; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10; Revelation 17:12-13).

He will want to be worshiped as if he were God in the end times:

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

He will be lawless and against the truth, and most of the world will be deceived:

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, (2 Thessalonians 2:9-13).

For more information on the ‘lawless one,’ check out the article Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?

The following New Testament scriptures support the view that to some degree, advanced computer software, which may or may not be considered as ‘artificial intelligence,’ will be used by the coming European Beast of the Sea dictator (Revelation 13:1-10) as well as his Beast of the Earth (Revelation 13:11) accomplice:

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:11-18)

Notice that the Beast of the Earth gets the people who dwell on the earth to worship the other Beast. While he will likely have what will be some type of demonic-superpower (Revelation 16:13), it is possible that something like artificial intelligence will be used to get the image of the Beast to speak and to get those who will not worship the Beast to be killed. AI will likely be involved in forcing the Mark of the Beast.

Additionally, when it comes to controlling buying and selling, that was not possible before this digital age of the 21st century. That is something that computers will be involved in. Computer software is a type of artificial intelligence. And sometimes it is specific programing that is considered AI as well.

The forcing of worship under the penalty of death, the control of buying and selling, etc. is totalitarian control.

That is coming and AI appears to be part of it.

It will be in place no later than during the time of the Great Tribulation.

Humans, if left to their own devices, would end up annihilating all human life. But the Bible shows that God will intervene:

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)

Jesus will destroy totalitarian Beast power and his accomplice:

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:11-19)

That Beast power will be destroyed and the Kingdom of God will be established:

15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:15-18)

As far as AI goes, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) also put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel related to it:

17:29
Crowdsourcing and Artificial Intelligence to solve “wicked problems”?

In 2016, the journal of Science published a paper that claims that crowdsourcing and artificial intelligence was the best way to deal with complex “wicked problems” like disease and climate change facing humanity. Is that possible or a false gospel? Is groupthink the answer? What does the Bible teach? What are real “wicked problems” and what does the Bible teach are real solutions?
A written article of related interest is titled: Study claims artificial intelligence and crowdsourcing will solve ‘wicked problems’ in the 21st century.
Here is a link to our video: Crowdsourcing and Artificial Intelligence to solve “wicked problems”?

Bible prophecy shows that a militaristic European dictator will arise and his supporters will apparently use something like AI.

This dictator will not love the truth and will work against all of God’s Ten Commandments (for details, check out the free online book: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast).

It is the despising of the truth and God’s law that is the real threat posed by the human use of AI.

UPDATE 05/29/23: We just uploaded the following related video:

14:41
Is AI in the Bible?
The Bible refers to a place that was ruined in the Book of Joshua called “Ai.” Are there any parallels to what is known as Artificial Intelligence (AI)? What did Joe Kovacs say about that? Are there any risks to AI, such as those warned about by Elon Musk? Are common AI sources like ChatGPT and Bing AI always reliable? Are there certain passages in the Bible, such as prophecies related to the militaristic Beast and Antichrist in the Book of Revelation, that point to the use of AI in the end times? Is the use of computer software consistent with the prophecies of the 666 Beast power? Does the New Testament have warnings of impostors deceiving? Is it possible that demons and AI will be involved in the end time? Will the nations of this world fight Jesus upon His return? Could AI affect and deceive humans? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these matters.

Here is a link to our video: Is AI in the Bible?

Who is the Man of Sin?

Who is the King of the North?

The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For

The Future King of the North

Satan’s Plan

What are Some of the Parts of Satan’s Plan?

Satan's Plan is More Dramatic than Many Realize

The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast

The Ten Commandments & The Beast of Revelation

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God

The Mark of Antichrist