Study claims artificial intelligence and crowdsourcing will solve ‘wicked problems’ in the 21st century

Does humanity have the solution in the works to solve its problems? Some think they have found the way:

January 5, 2015

As reported . . . a fascinating new study published in the journal Science claims that combining artificial intelligence (AI) and crowdsourcing could solve so-called “wicked problems.” But just what are wicked problems and why is crowdsourcing such an effective method against them?Scientists at the Human Computation Institute and Cornell University believes that this radical new concept could solve some of the most fundamental problems facing humanity, and crowdsourcing combined with AI could be the key to tackling wicked problems.

What are wicked problems? They’re essentially problems that are extremely complex with a huge amount of variables that makes it difficult for an individual to figure out a solution. Problems like the spread of disease, climate change, and geopolitical strife are difficult to tackle by even the smartest minds, but as it turns out, no one is as smart as all of us, which is why crowdsourcing could be the key.

Crowdsourcing is having individuals attack certain elements of a problem, and the combined effort results in a more complex and nuanced solution. AI could be used to manage this process, creating a super problem-solving system that could rid us of the ills facing mankind.

It’s an exciting revelation that could be one of the hallmarks of the development of mankind in the 21st century… http://www.morningticker.com/2016/01/what-on-earth-is-a-wicked-problem-and-why-is-everyone-talking-about-it-today/

‘Wicked problems’ are biblically problems caused by transgressing God’s law (cf. Psalm 119:150).

The idea of ‘group think’ and cooperation is one that the United Nations and the Vatican are promoting as well. And while they have not been specifically including the expression ‘artificial intelligence,’ they did allude to technology in the UN’s ‘New Universal Agenda.’

Notice something from MIRI, the Machine-Intelligence Research Institute:

We do foundational mathematical research to ensure smarter-than-human artificial intelligence has a positive impact. https://intelligence.org/?gclid=Cj0KEQiA2b20BRDj4buduIG-y9EBEiQAhgMGFdXEwevlxMXzv9vD93EgwA_ah3ok7IVR2jEd0E7wt1UaAi5r8P8HAQ

Once artificial agents become able to improve themselves, they may undergo an “intelligence explosion” and quickly surpass human intelligence. https://intelligence.org/research/

Software programs that go into machines are developed by humans. Sometimes individually, and sometimes collectively. But they are not divine and often dismiss what the Bible teaches.

What about crowdsourcing? Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines it as follows:

: the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people and especially from the online community rather than from traditional employees or suppliers

While the Bible encourages getting advice from a multitude of counselors (Proverbs 11:14), can humanity, through software programs and group-think, actually solve the woes it faces this century?

According to the Bible, the answer is NO. Notice:

23 O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. (Jeremiah 10:23)

The idea of cooperation, apart from God, to solve perceived problems is at least as old as the failed tower of Babel. Notice what the Bible teaches about that:

1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. (Genesis 9:1)

12 And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. (Genesis 9:12-15)

1 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:1-9)

People were afraid of the possibility of another worldwide flood, which God said He would not allow and they wanted to cooperate together, instead of being spread as God taught. But God put an end to their plans then, and will do the same thing to end-time Babylon as well:

1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day — death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. (Revelation 18:1-8)

Babylon and the wickedness associated with be eliminated. It will come from God and not humans.

Now perhaps it should be mentioned that the first time that the NKJV and Douay-Rheims translations of the Bible actually use the precise term ‘wicked,’ it had to do with the homosexuals and sexually immoral men in Sodom (see also The Bible Condemns Homosexuality)–a city that God destroyed for its wickedness:

13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord. (Genesis 13:13)

5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 5-7)

Strange flesh has to do with wickedness related to sexual immorality and the homosexual agenda (see also The Bible Condemns Homosexuality), something that the promoters of artificial intelligence and crowdsourcing do not see as problems.

Perhaps it should be pointed out the precise term ‘wickedness’ refers to human sin and is first found in Genesis 6:5 as the reason why God caused the great flood.

The Bible teaches that the solution to ‘wicked problems’ is to repent and accept Jesus:

21 But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. (Ezekiel 18:21)

38 Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38).

The Bible does not teach using something like crowdsourcing to get around problems.

Much of the disease and climate issues that humanity faces is the result of sin (see also Weather Blessings and Sorrows). The Bible, in the Book of Revelation does NOT teach that humanity will solve disease issues, but that pestilential diseases will kill vast multitudes (Revelation 6:7-8; see also Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse).

Yet many, including the Vatican, have another view. Last month, Pope Francis, referred to “an ever-growing sense of solidarity” related to international efforts on matters like ‘climate change’ (see Vatican pushing climate change and interfaith agendas: It still does NOT realize that the Old Covenant was replaced and Jesus must be confessed to be saved).

Pope Francis and the United Nation’s Ban ki-moon have the view that human cooperation can solve the problems now facing humanity (see United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order?).

But that is a false hope. The Bible warns:

6 “Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,” says the Lord; “for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the Lord. 7 “Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.” (Zechariah 2:6-7)

But what about real unity like God wants? The Bible is clear that this happens after Jesus returns (cf. Ephesians 4:14) and after the destruction of Babylon:

8 For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. 9 For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me.

10 “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord. 11 “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. (Zechariah 2:8-11)

While some may feel that it is ‘good news’ that ‘artificial intelligence’ and crowdsourcing’ can save humanity from ‘wicked problems,’ that is a false gospel (watch also Galatians 1 and the False Gospel).

By overlooking sins and promoting behaviors that God opposes, humanity is moving towards its destruction, not human-managed redemption.

The ONLY solution to the problems facing humanity in this age is repentance and the acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus. But Jesus taught since that would NOT happen in this age, God would have to intervene from stopping the destruction of all flesh on the earth:

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)

So is all doomed?

No, God will intervene:

15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:

“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:15-18)

Instead of having hope that humanity through international cooperation, crowdsourcing, and artificial intelligence will solve humanities wicked problems, notice that the Jesus will have to come to destroy those who ‘destroy the earth’ as humanity will not save the planet.

However,the return of Jesus and the establishment of the millennial Kingdom of God will.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Bible, Christians, and the Environment How should Christians view the environment? Does the Bible give any clues? What are some of the effects of air, water, and land pollution? Is environmental pollution a factor in autism and death? Do pollutants seem to double the autism risk? What will Jesus do? A YouTube video is available titled Air Pollution, Autism, and Prophecy.
Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done? What does the Bible teach about weather? What about floods, droughts, heat, earthquakes, tornadoes, and solar storms? Here is a related YouTube video Does God Use Weather? A related item in the Spanish language would be Bendiciones y maldiciones del clima.
Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse What is the pale horse of death and pestilences? What will it bring and when? Spanish: El cuarto jinete de Apocalipsis, el caballo pálido de muerte y pestilencia.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2016, 2017, or 2018? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2016 o 2017? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives. A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? Two related videos include UN’s ‘New Universal Agenda’ is a False Gospel! and United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
Laudato Si: Pope’s Agenda or Kingdom of God? Pope Francis’ 2nd encyclical is titled ‘Laudato Si.’ In it, he goes over his views related to environmental, economic, social, moral, agricultural, and spiritual issues. He advocates international cooperation to solve various problems he believes are affecting humanity. Is that Pope’s agenda the solution? What about the Kingdom of God? does the Bible teach? Two related articles include Laudato Si: Will Pope Francis’ economic actions match his words? and Laudato Si: A call for a one-world government?
Do You Know That Babylon is Forming? How is the final Babylon forming? Are Protestants such as Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland are endorsing something dangerous? Could Pope Francis be the ‘False Prophet’ that the Bible warns against? Is an antipope expected to endorse a one-world religion? Here is a link to a related written article In Vatican City: New Babylon more openly forming!
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermons Why Teach the Kingdom of God? and The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet.” Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?
Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation discusses the largest church since the second/third century, which in a real sense is the eighth church mentioned in the Book of Revelation (it also endorses “eighth day” worship). What church would support the Beast? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near? A related sermon is titled The Millennium.