Can intelligence be artificial?

In the 2013 America’s Cup sailboat race in San Francisco Bay, the United States boat, “Oracle,” had fallen behind. The challenger, New Zealand, was leading by a score of 6–0 with just three more wins needed for victory.

A complex computer program designed to optimize performance had, so far, guided the US boat. Now, the boat’s skipper, a seasoned sailor, decided that he knew more about sailing than a computer. He overruled the computer’s instructions and went with his own judgment. That led to victory in the next race, followed by two more defeats. But in what has been referred to as one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, the US boat was then triumphant in the next eight races, coming back from 8-1 to win the America’s Cup.

While today’s algorithms can enable a computer to complete specific tasks, analyze data, learn from its mistakes, and even write a convincing term paper, will computers ever be able to receive spiritual intuitions, inspiration, or direction from divine intelligence, God – communications that come through spiritual sense alone?

“Artificial” means that which is made by human beings rather than that which occurs naturally. But can intelligence be made by man? That depends on what intelligence actually is.

Christian Science posits that Mind, or intelligence, is divine Spirit, God, and that man is God’s reflection – Spirit’s image and likeness, as the Bible states (see Genesis 1:26, 27). A reflection simply expresses its original. So man – meaning the true, spiritual identity of each one of us – doesn’t have to get intelligence and can’t create it; rather, we include intelligence by reflection. And this intelligence does not come from the brain but is divine Spirit or Mind, God.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, puts it this way: “The belief that a pulpy substance under the skull is mind is a mockery of intelligence, a mimicry of Mind” (“Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. 192). Intelligence is spiritual, unlimited, always available, universal.

Christ Jesus’ many wonderful works came about through his recognition that God was the intelligence and power behind all his deeds. He relied on Mind for everything he said and did. And by doing so he perceived the thoughts of those around him and knew exactly how to address their concerns, misunderstandings, and even personal histories.

There are other biblical examples of people reflecting divine intelligence. The prophet Elisha, for instance, was able to warn the king of Israel repeatedly when and where the king of Syria had planned an ambush. Relying entirely on God for direction, decisions, and answers is possible and, in fact, natural to all of us as His offspring.

But this reliance requires humility. We must be willing to trust God and listen for His direction rather than trying to solve a problem on our own. This approach is as valid for an immediate need as it is for far-reaching decision-making.

At one time, in a somewhat panicked state when my car wouldn’t start, I quickly found the solution by getting mentally quiet and listening for Mind’s direction. I was led to find and fix a tiny hex nut. It had worked its way loose so that the pedal was moving but not the shaft to which it was attached. This whole operation was counterintuitive – I had assumed that the accelerator pedal was a one-piece design, but in this case, it wasn’t.

More consequentially, such spiritual listening has brought me insights and guidance on the bigger issues, such as marriage.

“Immortal Mind, governing all, must be acknowledged as supreme in the physical realm, so-called, as well as in the spiritual,” says Science and Health (p. 427). I’ve found that divine Mind is always the best problem-solver, whether the issue is related to mechanics, health, relationships, finances, or political challenges. And why not, since Mind, God, is all-knowing and all-wise? I’ve also found that this understanding helps me to pray about larger issues, even global ones.

This is not an argument for dispensing with technology, although it is increasingly clear that we need to exercise wisdom in its use. It can help us and relieve us of many ordinary tasks. But all intelligence is spiritual, not material. Its source being God, divine Mind, it is neither artificial nor human but infinite, spiritual, ever present, and all-knowing, capable of guiding us in everything needful.

Adapted from an article published in the June 26, 2023, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.