By Danny Minton

AI is the most talked-about concept in the world of knowledge development right now. However, even AI has its limits. I recently decided to test Google’s AI knowledge database. Granted, it’s not the most sophisticated database, but for my needs it served its purpose. I started with the question, “Where did the world come from?” I would get an answer, then ask a “Where” question about the results. This non-scientific method went through a series of questions, with each subsequent question based on the answer. I finally got down to one that said, in reference to the final question, “Where did the infinitely dense point with zero volume—known as a gravitational singularity — come from?” I got two answers depending on which direction I took. One was that “it does not physically ‘come from’ anywhere.” And the second was that the theories break down when it comes to the question of “Where?” 

AI is a great tool with many applications in knowledge and in automation. It will be around for a long time. However, it is limited to what man puts into its coding. Parts of it will make life much easier and more fun, which changes the world. Other parts will challenge our thinking and, at times, our opinions on life. In the database part of AI, there will always be places where it will bog down, like humans, and have to say, “Sorry, I can’t answer that.”

Emails are great! They make communication fast and easy. The problem is that they don’t carry the tone of the person sending them. They leave room for reading between the lines. The reader can interpret them however they wish. Many people will say things in emails they’d never say to someone face-to-face. 

Blogs are great! We can all share our thoughts and viewpoints. The problem is that we can share our thoughts and viewpoints. Blogs, for the most part, are simply people’s opinions on something. They are not necessarily right, but we sometimes use them as if the writer were a well-known scholar on the subject, when in reality it’s just someone giving their opinion.

The Internet is great! It’s full of useful information. The problem is that just because it’s on the Internet doesn’t make it true. It’s a great source of information, but at the same time, it’s the world’s biggest source of false information across all subjects and news. 

Facebook is a great way to share life events! It’s fun and keeps you in touch with vast numbers of friends. The problem is that sometimes people give TMI (Too much information). People share things on Facebook that are often embarrassing and nothing like what Jesus would have us do.

Texting is a fantastic tool! You can communicate things in an instant! The problem is that when it is used to excess, it alienates us from the world we are in. We become rude to those around us, putting the person on the other end of the text ahead of those we are speaking to face-to-face. 

Our world is changing, and all of these are great advancements. I use them all. As long as we use them properly, they are fantastic tools. But nothing comes even close to talking and sharing with someone “face to face.” It is only then that we can truly share emotions, feelings, and heartfelt attitudes. You don’t have to read between the lines or wonder what is coming next. 

As I’ve said before, one of my favorite stories about Jesus is when the leper came to him to be healed in Luke 5. “While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him.”

It was that personal contact that really makes Jesus different than many of us. It wasn’t done with words. It wasn’t done long-distance. It was done with human contact. 

Bell Telephone years ago had the line “Reach out and touch someone.” There is no better way to address people’s needs than through human contact. There is no better way to handle conflict with others than face-to-face dialogue.

More importantly, there is no better way to be Jesus than to reach out and touch those who are hurting.

How about it? Have you touched anyone lately?

Danny Minton, a member of Southern Hills Church of Christ, is a hospital chaplain