Why I’m Not Afraid of AI: A Matter of Faith

In recent months, many have talked about AI risks, and employees of AI giants such as Anthropic and OpenAI have warned about everything from AI taking over the internet to the extinction of the human race. But I’d like to suggest a different approach. I’m not worried.

I’m not worried about AI, nor about AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), nor about ASI (Artificial Superintelligence). And the simple reason is that as a frum Jew who believes in G-d, I know that if G-d decides to wipe out the human race, He doesn’t need AI agents—He can simply bring a Mabul (flood). So I know that no matter how sophisticated AI becomes, it will not be able to wipe out the human race, because G-d will not let it happen.

But there’s another layer. We, humans, will always be superior to AI because we were created by G-d. We have a soul. AI will never be superior to the human race, as humans were created by Him. Sure, the machine can definitely perform actions that a human can’t, or do them much faster, but we are talking about either routine tasks or tasks that a human assigned to the machine.

Any programmer who has used AI recently knows that AI makes mistakes, and we will always have to be there to monitor it. Because we are creative; we think. When it comes to creativity, we are better than the machine. The machine cannot be like us.

In some areas, AI is superior to humans simply because it is a machine. Just as humans used oxen to plow fields because they were stronger, AI can perform calculations and routine tasks faster than humans can. But this is nothing new. Humans have been utilizing computers since the early eighties. The fact that a Large Language Model can generate code faster—and perhaps more efficiently—than a human doesn’t make it superior to us, any more than a CNC machine used in manufacturing is superior to humans. They are all tools created by humans to help manufacture complex, modern products. Large Language Models, known as Artificial Intelligence, are simply sophisticated machines invented by humans to complete tasks faster and more efficiently.

AI was invented and developed by humans. But we know that our knowledge, our innovation, and our intelligence are all gifts from G-d. Therefore, if G-d gave humans the intelligence to develop and invent something—in our case, Artificial Intelligence—it is probably not to destroy the world, but rather to advance and fix it. You might ask: but what about nuclear technology?

The simple answer is that while nuclear technology can be destructive and cause severe harm, so far it hasn’t destroyed the world, and it also offers significant benefits, such as clean energy.

Yet, human responsibility dictates that we must take necessary safety measures to ensure this technology is used responsibly. We must make every effort to guarantee its safety, establish rigorous barriers, and handle it in a reasonable manner. Just as G-d commanded humanity to tend and keep the world rather than destroy it, technology companies, therefore, have a moral obligation to ensure their systems remain secure and to enforce robust safeguards. 

It is no wonder, then, that those who fear AI are mostly on the progressive side of the spectrum. Progressivism has largely removed G-d from daily life. When you don’t believe in G-d, you begin to fear things that seem threatening, leaving you feeling helpless in the face of those fears—whether it is technology or something else.

But those who believe in G-d know that the world is under control: under the guidance and control of G-d. 

And this is the reason why I don’t fear AI, nor do I think AI will obliterate the human race—simply because I know that G-d manages the world, and I trust Him. Now, as someone who knows a thing or two about technology, I could also provide plenty of rational explanations, though that is beyond the scope of this column. Human engineers will find ways to restrict the power of AI and build guardrails. And for those who claim that AI agents will become “too” smart, human engineers will simply use AI agents to keep things under control. But while there are many technical reasons why AI will not conquer the human race, the ultimate reason I am not afraid is because I trust G-d.