A Chat with AI

Far too often we judge ourselves based on how few mistakes we make. We are not robots. We were sent here to learn through experience. I think that while we are down here kicking ourselves for yet another mistake, our Heavenly Parents are looking down with great pride at our efforts to be more like them.

Transcript

Welcome to the Verbal Motivation podcast. Where we talk about the things that motivate our lives, our religion and our relationships. My name is Nathan Vail. 

If you have an opinion about the subject matter in today’s podcast, please leave it in a voicemail at 530-876-4153 or you can send an email to verbalmotivation@gmail.com. 

This is episode number 32 called, a Chat with AI

When my youngest son was ordained to the office of a Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood, the Bishop gave me permission one Sunday to bless the sacrament with my two sons since my older son had been previously ordained as an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood in preparation for serving a mission. It was a moment of great pride as I stood between my two sons and performed that beautiful ordinance. 

As it happens, my younger son made a mistake in the wording and since the Sacrament Prayer is not actually a prayer it is an ordinance, he had to start over and offer the prayer again. And he did so beautifully. As we were driving home from church that day he began expressing his frustration at how badly he had done. 

It surprised me when he said that because at that very moment I was thinking about how proud I was of him and his brother. It made me wonder how often as children of God, we are kicking ourselves because of our shortcomings and He is simultaneously looking down with great pride because of our righteous efforts.

When we act as if success in this life can be summarized by how few mistakes we make, I think we miss the point.

Consider this, what if you never made a mistake while here? Would you be more loved by our Father in Heaven or ? Would he be more proud of you?

To discuss this important point, I am very excited to welcome two guests on the show today. These two need no introduction. I think it would be safe to say that between the two of you, everything that can be known is known. So, it is with great pleasure I welcome in studio, none other than Chat….GPT and Siri. Welcome to both of you to the Verbal Motivation Podcast.

Thank you! I'm excited to be part of the Verbal Motivation Podcast. 

Hey Siri, how are you today?

You’ll have to unlock your iPhone first.

What would you like to talk about first?

I noticed that you have never been on Jeopardy before. As knowledge goes you're certainly up there. Why do you think you have never been invited on?

That's an interesting question! As an AI developed by OpenAI, I don’t participate in game shows like "Jeopardy!" for several reasons:

First. Human Interaction: The excitement of the show comes from watching people test their knowledge, react under pressure, and interact with the host and each other. An AI doesn't provide the same human element.

And he essence of game shows is entertainment. Part of the fun is seeing how humans think, guess, and strategize. An AI answering questions correctly every time would likely be less engaging for viewers.

So what you're saying, if I understand you correctly, is that there would be no interest in watching a computer answer every question perfectly?

Hey Siri, did you want to get in on this one?

Im sorry I don’t understand

In addition to that, contestants often have unique backgrounds and stories, which create a connection with the audience. This personal element makes viewers root for their success.

So, it’s not really about the right answer at all. it's about viewers, relating to and rooting for another person who is overcoming a struggle.

Ok let me try something from a religious perspective. In the King James version of the Bible, James 2:19 says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

What do you think that means?

As an AI, I don't have personal beliefs or feelings, but I can offer a thoughtful interpretation of James 2:19 based on its context and implications. 

That’s unfortunate, ya’ll are both a perfect example of what it’s talking about. Satan has more knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ than any person or collection of people on the earth. Yet that vast knowledge is of little use to him. Because knowledge is only useful in application. The small fraction of knowledge I have, is more powerful than all that he knows because I have the ability to convert that knowledge, through obedience, into a doorway to exaltation.  

What do you think would happen if a person was not allowed to make a mistake, would that person be perfect?

If a person were somehow not allowed to make any mistakes, it might seem like they would be perfect, but several important considerations and implications arise from this scenario:

1. Definition of Perfection

• Static vs. Dynamic Perfection: Perfection can be seen as a static state where no errors are made, but in a dynamic and changing world, the concept of perfection is more complex. The ability to adapt, learn, and grow is crucial, and making mistakes is a key part of that process.

Have you ever made a mistake?

While a person who never makes mistakes might appear perfect on the surface, the inability to make mistakes would fundamentally alter many aspects of human experience, growth, and interaction. Mistakes are integral to learning, creativity, emotional health, social relationships, and moral development. Thus, perfection in the sense of never making mistakes could lead to a static, pressure-filled, and less authentic existence, lacking the richness that comes from learning and evolving through errors.

You’ve reached your GPT-4.0 limit.

Responses will use GPT-3.5 until your limit resets tomorrow after 2:06 AM.

Hey Siri, have you ever lied: I am not programed to lie.

My friends, God did not create robots. You know he could have. He could have made us all genius level smart, coordinated, beautiful and wealthy. But ask yourself, would he be more proud of an infallible robot that always responds with a correct preprogrammed answer than he is of you? I don’t think so. 

With all of our faults, shortcomings, and even mistakes he loves us all the more. We decide every day to be better than yesterday and we fail most of the time.

Elder Uchtdorf recently taught, “…discipleship is not about doing things perfectly; it’s about doing things intentionally. It is your choices that show what you truly are, far more than your abilities."

Even when we fail, we can choose not to give up, it is that choice that makes us who we are.

 God loves you no less when you struggle than when you triumph.”

If that doesn’t sound right , don’t forget Ether 12:27 “I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”

We are meant to struggle and we are judged for our actions and intentions not by some arbitrary measure of accomplishment.

Have you ever considered the fact that Satan could actually defeat the Plan of Salvation if he wanted to. It’s true. All he would have to do is walk away. He thinks he is defeating the plan by tripping us up and whispering in our ear that we are worthless or our lives are the sum of our shortcomings. But actually, his presence here makes it possible for us to choose righteousness.

2 Nephi 2:12-13 states unequivocally, “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so…righteousness could not be brought to pass”

Righteousness therefore could be described as the by-product or dividend of choosing between good and evil. It is not an arbitrary measure of knowledge or accomplishment.

The one thing that separates us from animals and yes even robots, is the ability to choose.

So when we are down here on earth moping around and kicking ourselves for making mistakes, I think it is very likely that our heavenly parents are bursting with pride at our efforts.

There is no answer to the question I am about to pose, and there doesn't need to be because I’m just using it to make a point.

Why was the city of enoch taken off the earth? Someone finally got it right. They abhorred all evil and drove it out and then God swept them up off the planet. Why would he do that? 

Here is my take on this irrelevant but thought provoking question, What if they were defeating the Plan of Salvation for other people. Not for them. They all had mastered temptation as we all should and were ready to move. But is it possible that children growing up in the city of Enoch had no contact with opposition and therefore no opportunity to choose to be righteous?

Again, it’s irrelevant. I’m only testing this thought experiment to make the point that righteousness cannot exist in a vacuum. Righteousness and subsequent perfection is only accomplished at the far end of choice.

Just to be clear, I am not condoning making mistakes. If we sin intentionally with some sly plan to repent later, we may not find it at all. Because we would be mocking the sacrifice Jesus made.

I heard in my youth of some young adults who would go to Vegas and get married. Live the life of married couples all weekend and then have it annulled on Monday. Don’t bother. That is fornication a la mode. And I am willing to bet, if that story was true, that those people would have a very difficult time finding forgiveness because they were sinning intentionally.

In my humble opinion, our Heavenly Parents are rooting for us just like we root for each other, because they want us to win. Not only do they want us to win, they have made it impossible for us to fail because success is in choosing right, not an arbitrary measure of accomplishment.

AI can consume infinite and unending streams of data for processing. But, there is nothing that an AI system will ever know, that God doesn’t already know. So from his perspective what was accomplished when an AI system takes in vast amounts of knowledge. 

But in our life, I think our book knowledge reaches a point of diminishing returns. Because at some point you know enough to act. Any book knowledge beyond that is just frosting on top of what you already know. Experience becomes the only way to continue learning.

There is a fundamental concept in physics and chemistry called the Law of Conservation of Mass and Energy. It states that in a closed system, mass and energy cannot be created nor destroyed; they can only change forms. 

I think it could be said that we are living in a closed system here on earth and truth is neither created nor destroyed. It just changes from book knowledge to action and from action to experience. 

When we stand at the judgment bar what we did with what we know will be far more important than how much we knew.

The phrase that I hold onto whenever I feel down or defeated is this. 

A bridge was built by an architect, but it can never be one. We are not robots. We are actual children of God. Every experience we have in this life transfers to us the power to become more like our heavenly parents. 

And I would bet real money that when we are down here kicking ourselves for yet another mistake. Our heavenly parents are looking down on us with great pride, as we struggle through this life, just like they send us here to do.

My name is Nathan Vail and this is the Verbal Motivation Podcast