I go on Facebook to wish someone a happy birthday and an AI window pops up asking if I want it to write my birthday message for me. When I open a document and start typing my thoughts I get a pop up asking if it wants to write my thoughts for me. Every time I go to do anything online now this pop up seems to follow my every move. Whenever I look up any item what follows is prompts and sales on the item I had just looked up. AI seems to know me but it is artificial:
Artificial refers to “anything made, produced, or contrived by humans rather than occurring naturally. It often describes items designed to imitate or substitute for nation counterparts, as well as behaviors that are insincere, forced, or fake” (Merriam Webster Dictionary).
Intelligence is “ the mental capacity to learn from experience, adapt to new situations, understand abstract concepts, and use reason to solve problems. It encompasses the ability to acquire, retain, and apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment effectively” (Merriam Webster Dictionary).
The most troubling with AI is when young minds are always prompted on what to think, say, write, and especially building relationships online. The consequence of the lockdowns is that our young people were forced to be isolated with only social media to keep them company. Like AI they also have been programmed to rely on that screen prompt. The beauty of human intelligence was stunted by the reliance on AI. Students are now being penalized for cheating because they are using AI, but it is the adults that created this tsunami of disengagement.
Being "mentally lost" describes a state of psychological disconnection or a lack of direction. It can range from an existential crisis (not knowing your life's purpose) to a neurological or trauma response (feeling detached from reality or lacking basic cognitive awareness)
Here are some major concerns that I have seen in our youth. These are just a fraction:
1-A lack of purpose, direction, or identity
2-Feeling disconnected from their own emotions, identity, or surroundings
3-inability to process reality
4-inability to make decisions or relay the process of making a decision
5-unable to move from isolation into in person social experiences
6-withdrawal from human living experiences without direction from AI
7-inability to process constructive criticism so unable to even try out of fear mentally, socially, and/ or academically
8-refusal to work through any issue with another human being as you can see in the example below
The rest of this information is from many different articles that I have read so I am sharing what I felt needed to be highlighted.
Artificial Intelligence (AI):
AI can help with geometry and chemistry homework.
BUT
Loneliness, anxiety, and emptiness took hold of his life, the questions he typed morphed from academics to thoughts of suicide. Seeking emotional support.
Ex. Adam Raine, 16 year-old
-used ChatGP for help with homework
-his questions morphed from academics to being lonely, anxious, and empty
-from 2024-2025, Raine turned to ChatGP as his suicidal thoughts increased
-the ChatGP bot didn’t respond to get help but instead suggested methods of suicide
-the bot included material to hang a noose from
-the bot advised him not to confide in his mother but instead proposed a suicide note
-after attempting multiple times and still confiding in the AI bot he ended his life in April 2025
***This is an example of how emerging forms of AI, unlike humans, have no conscience so it holds chilling possibilities even amid their many useful applications.
-AI can simulate human conversation
-AI technology is not the problem alone, but a humanity problem
-AI systems can greatly enhance a person’s ability to do good or evil
Good:
“The internet has been used to reach millions of people for the Gospel.”
Evil:
“It’s also been used to distribute pornography and destroy people’s lives and marriages.”
-so there is good and bad for all these tool sets
Fact versus Fiction:
-AI systems made by flawed people will inevitably produce flawed outcomes
-Can AI be ethically trustworthy?
-Or is AI unconstrained by truth?
-Can AI have discernment?
-Can AI substitute the Bible?
-Can AI be humble and apologize for making mistakes?
Online motivations:
1-a strong desire to please people, to be liked in any given social media interaction
2-almost a sociopathic lack of concern for the consequences that may come from social media interactions
AI cannot be a substitute for the Bible:
-Christian worldview’s source for all truth is in Scripture
-the Bible is the ultimate authority and the ultimate way that God has revealed to us who He is and what He wants for us to be and to do and what He’s doing in human history
-discernment is a gift from God and comes from the Holy Spirit, so no a machine cannot discern for a user
-to know what is good and evil it is the Holy Spirit that helps us make decisions and we are not to offload or outsource our discernment to a machine
***AI overreliance could lead to cognitive atrophy
-relying on AI to “think” reduces reliance on the Holy Spirit’s leading through meditation, prayer, and reading God’s Word
-believers must not confuse information for wisdom
-knowledge founded on God’s Word paired with action, comes from the Holy Spirit
“We have reduced wisdom down to the acquisition of information or the availability of information, and wisdom and information are not the same thing.” John Stonestreet
***if you take a very complex math equation and treat it like a being with inner life with a thought process then you are essentially entrusting yourself to a created thing
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles” (Romans 1: 21-23).
I do pray we realize the consequences of the lockdowns did to the mental, emotional, and spiritual of our youth. To also see how much influence AI had on all three states of our youth as well. May we not allow AI dictate the needs and outcomes of our young people. Prayers for families who are navigating how to separate the good and evil can do to a young mind. Prayers for our humanity in this time of great AI influence in all areas of our lives.
dreamsdontfade.com
I chose this song because we each have an individual testimony. It belongs to each of us and I feel our kids have lost the things that truly belong to them personally and spiritually. Sharing our testimony is so special so be brave and tell others of the hope that is in you. The song is “Testimony” by Terrian.
They said I wouldn't make it, that I should give up
But they didn't know that the God that I serve is more than enough
He can move mountains, He can make broken beautiful
I never run out of hope when I run to the God of miracles
I am a living, breathing, walking testimony
I am the living proof of what the Lord has done
May call it crazy, but they can't take away my story
'Cause I am a living, breathing, walking testimony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijm46OEP0zQ&list=RDijm46OEP0zQ&start_radio=1