Work Reimagined
I recently read a short but interesting article on AI and the future of work. In “Work Reimagined: How AI Could Usher in a New Age of Human Artisanship[1],” Pavan Muzumdar argues that AI just might be our avenue to more meaningful, creative, and enjoyable work. He believes that with the proper use of AI, we can shed the burden of mundane work (AI can do the awful stuff!) to then freely create out of curiosity, craftsmanship, and joy rather than for survival or efficient productivity. He concludes that AI may just usher in a new golden age of human activity.
Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Even those of us who love our work wish that we could take some fraction of what we do and place it squarely on the shoulders of our AI minions! Perhaps with AI, we will gain additional hours in a day to focus on what we love to do rather than what we must do.
Yet in some sense, it sounds too good to be true. If AI does all the mundane work, what will happen to the people who do “mundane work?” What about those who control AI – will they ensure the shift to artisanship or will they instead demand greater productivity? To be fair, I believe the author’s intent was to inspire rather than to address ethical issues. Nonetheless, for Christians, many serious questions are left unanswered by this article, and more importantly, it fails to address the most fundamental question at the heart of the strain of work: how will AI ever usher in utopian work if it cannot usher out our sin problem?
What humanity experienced in the garden, perfectly joyous and creative work, was corrupted when Adam and Eve sinned. Sin brought pain, thorn, thistle and sweat (Gen 3:17-19). AI may be able to change the focus of our work over time, but it will never be able to remove man’s sin. Man will continue to do what he has always done since the fall – corrupt what is good. AI will be like any other tool that has come before, one that will be used for good and evil. But until AI’s creator (sinful man) is redeemed by its Creator (sinless God), it will only be able to follow with the taint of corruption. No matter how much good comes via AI, it will also regularly remind us that it falls far short of savior status. It, too, like any other adaptation generated out of a historical renaissance, will expose our human frailty and filthiness. Its revolutionary changes will never regenerate the garden of Eden. AI will ultimately fail to satisfy because it is powerless to create what we desire…work free from sin in a world free from sin.
But do not be discouraged. As a follower of Jesus, you know that God has already sent a Savior to begin his work to change the world! Jesus worked out his perfection in the flesh, never falling short nor looking to another source to avoid the difficult work of redeeming sinful people. He never took a break to focus only on the enjoyable parts. He went to the cross for you and me, fully devoted, even to the point of death. What costly work! Yet, for the joy set before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame and as a result is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. But his work to our benefit didn’t end there. He continues daily to work among mankind, restoring what was broken, bringing life and joy amid human sin and death.
Amazingly, God is empowering you now to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Phil 2:12-13). Ultimately, we do not need AI (though it can certainly be a tool for good), we need Jesus. He is the one who redeems our work by guiding us to love God and others through our work. And as we do so, He fills our work with real joy and satisfaction, even when the work is hard.
When we fall short, and fail to look to Jesus moment by moment, be encouraged that His work in us will not fall short. He will complete the work of salvation in us, despite our sin, because he has conquered it on our behalf! And he will never stop his redeeming work until that final day when he calls all his children home.
Sorry AI. Like us, you fall short. The golden age ahead for those who are in Christ Jesus is so much grander than what you are capable of offering. Work in the new heaven and new earth will never be mundane. All work will be fulfilling because there will be no sin and death, no source of pain, no thorn or thistle, and no sweat to corrupt it. We will be free to purely worship him in all our work. Imagine the creativity, craftsmanship, and joy we will experience in the days ahead!
As we wait, know that I will be praying that God will give you much fruit (and joy) as you work out your salvation until He comes.
Pastor Brad
Disclaimer: No form of artificial intelligence was used in the creation of this encouragement (except for spell check).
[1] https://www.automationalley.com/articles/work-reimagined-how-ai-could-usher-in-a-new-age-of-human-artisanship
