Artificial Intelligence, Man & God – A Chat with Professor John Lennox

By: Kristian Johnson

John Anderson was joined on his podcast recently by mathematician, bioethicist and Christian apologist Professor John Lennox for a profound conversation centred on the current and future impacts of artificial intelligence technology, including the ethical implications of this technology.

Professor Lennox says Christians especially ought to consider how to use and engage with this new technology in a morally responsible way.

They also discuss the shortcomings of science in the search for meaning and truth, the factors behind rising secularism in the West, China’s rapid AI implementation, the true meaning of ‘faith,’ and how mankind’s instinctive yearning for immortality, which seems to be hard-wired into us, is manifesting itself through transhumanism.

How should Christians respond to this phenomenon in light of Christian claims about eternity and individual immortality?

Watch the full length interview

John Lennox is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford, author, Christian apologist, bioethicist and philosopher. He has written many highly-regarded books on religion, ethics and the relationship between science and faith.

In 2020, Lennox published 2084 – Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity, which covers key developments in technological enhancement, bioengineering and AI. In the book, he discusses the current state of AI – its benefits, dangers and future implications.

Over the past 15 years, Lennox has been part of numerous public debates defending the Christian faith, including debates with Christopher Hitchens, Michael Shermer and Richard Dawkins.

John Anderson served as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia from 1999 to 2005. A committed Christian, John now hosts a podcast where he interviews various thought leaders from around the world on topics as varied as politics, culture, academia and faith. John is motivated by a desire to encourage open and honest discussion of important issues so that we can, as a society, reach the best possible outcomes for as many people as possible.

Article supplied with thanks to JohnAnderson.net.au.

About the Author: Alec Bennetts is a writer working for John Anderson and his ‘Conversations’ series, and the ‘John Anderson Direct’ podcast.

Feature image: Photo by Andrea De Santis on Unsplash