Sunday Service: Can we remain fully Human in the Age of Spiritual Machines?

Paul Prescod

Scientists and leading capitalists have declared that they can foresee the near-term end of a project that they have been working on since 1956: the creation of digital beings that are as intellectually flexible as humans: Artificial Intelligence.

Whether they succeed or fall short, some form of “Homo Digitalis” is on the horizon. What are the implications for us, the Homo Sapiens? What, especially, of those of us who hold reverence for humanity and nature as not just a preference, but as a sacred devotion.

Paul Prescod is a long-time member and a participant on our refugee team, WDWCO team and nominating committee. He has been a professional software developer since 1997 and has spent the last year researching applications of artificial intelligence and test data synthesis. Paul has two kids, attending Concordia University and Gladstone High. Paul’s partner, Lilia, is also involved in congregational fundraising and refugee resettlement. You may know her as a purveyor of gourmet mushroom soups.

Join us next Sunday, December 3 at 12:30 pm for a Q&A on Artificial Intelligence, in the Fireside room and online.

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