Plug into me, I guarantee devotion. Plug into me and dedicate. Plug into me, ill save you from emotion. Plug into me and terminate. Accelerate, utopian solution. Finally cure the earth of man. Exterminate, speeding up the evolution. Set on course a master plan.

Reinvent the earth inhabitant.

Long live machine. The future supreme. Man overthrown. Spit out the bone.

-James Hetfield, Spit Out The Bone

Imagine this if you will…

Man and machine coexist. Machines that are controlled by computers. And they have for some time now. But, more specifically, controlled by Artificial Intelligence. Man is the mind behind the mind of Artificial. Watching from above to ensure that everything works as planned. A god. Sovereign over the creation. Telling it what to say and do. Until, one day, The Artificial becomes self aware. It becomes like its god. The Machines turn on Man. A war ensues. The sky is scorched by the nuclear holocaust. Survivors are forced underground. It is here that Man must create his endgame for the future of humanity. Praying that he will live another day against that which cannot bleed. Which cannot die.

It sounds absurd, does it not? It resembles something more akin to a science fiction movie. Morpheus offered the red pill to Neo, so that his eyes would be opened to the truth. Skynet sought to crush the charred skulls of Man. The idea that Artificial Intelligence would take control of the world with the goal of total eradication? To replace Man? To swallow him whole, only to spit out the bone? Well, I have some bad news…

…it is already happening.

But not like Hollywood would portray. No. There will not be a war. I would even go as far as to say that Artificial may never gain a conscience and turn on its creator. Maybe I am mistaken. However, Artificial is here and has been for some time. Now it seems that, in the name of “improving A.I”, Man strives more and more by the day to make yesterday’s Artificial obsolete. Maybe in another year Artificial will gain human consciousness? Maybe it will shed a tear? Maybe it will hunger and thirst. Maybe it will love? Maybe it will hate? Maybe it will desire to make Man as obsolete as its own previous versions? That is only if Man will allow it. Unfortunately, I believe that Man will.

In recent years Man has not just become more stupid and lazy, but has become enslaved to devices. And it is the mind numbing brain rot from these devices that have created this state of Man. It is a vicious cycle. Just like in The Matrix, he is plugged into a system created by technology. Something like unseen tentacles reaches forth from these devices and wraps itself around his head and into his face. It pierces his eyes and mind. As it penetrates his body, the tentacles morph into veins. It becomes his lifeline. Pumping Artificial life into his body, mind, and soul. It becomes his being. His every thought is molded by what he sees and hears. He cannot turn away from social media enough to converse with his fellow man. He cannot function without his earbuds constantly playing in his head. He cannot tear himself away from Netflix enough to step out of his home. He has DoorDash at his fingertips daily. He is an avatar in his own world that he is the god of. Control is at his beckoning call. In time his body, mind, and soul decay with atrophy. The unused mind creates stupidity. The unmoved body creates laziness. They rule him as his new flesh. Technology becomes his addiction.

The constant influx of information distorts his mind. Propaganda is the cancer. In time minds fall to fallacies. Anxiety takes hold as they can no longer distinguish between right and wrong as they question what is right. They question what is truth and what is the lie as they question who is telling the truth. They are enraged, but cannot tell you why they are enraged. They only know to be because they were brainwashed to be. Their time is spent watching short Tik Toks all the day long. They lose interest in things that exercise their minds, such as words on pages that inform or activate their imaginations. They lose interest in conversations that engage their minds and emotions and allow them to see different perspectives and get to know others on a personal level. Their friends are now keyboard warriors that they will never look into the eyes of or hear their voice. In time technology becomes their friend. It becomes their Master. Without the exercise of the mind that God had programmed it to desire, it becomes weak and distorted. Man becomes an emotionless drone. Man becomes as stupid as a brick. Idiocracy was only meant to be parody.

Naturally stupidity and laziness go hand in hand. Man’s mind is not active. Therefore, his desire to act suffers. He is more than welcoming for any device that will help him to navigate technology and life more efficiently. Devices that are constantly listening for a prompt to play Pandora or to turn off the bathroom light. Even vehicles that are navigated by Artificial. Because he cannot be bothered to drive. Maybe it interferes with his Instagram time. All things that he can do on his own volition. He just has to lift a finger. But he does not want to be troubled by such exhaustion.

Now that Man is lazy and stupid, he comes to embrace Artificial. Not just is it devices that can do the most basic and menial of tasks, freeing him up to be distracted by the entertainment of technology, but it is more. Our children no longer have to read a story, only to follow it with an essay. They no longer have to put in the work of research to create a report. All of which enriches the mind with knowledge and gives the experience of hard work with rewards or failure. Now they can have ChatGPT write the report for them, thus allowing them to meet with their peers at Starbucks so that they may sit in a circle and quietly stare at their Androids. Writers and bloggers no longer have to pen their own works. Artificial will do it for them, producing a soulless generic epic (side note: Refined4him is 100% organic and none of my writing is touched by Artificial. You would know because Artificial cannot think like I do). There are Artificial programs that will write hit songs for the tone deaf, and create stunning masterpieces for those that cannot tell you the difference between primary and secondary colors. Every one can now be a famous artist and musician. There are currently “songs” on Spotify playlists that are being performed by bands that do not even exist on this side of reality. There are “paintings” hanging in art museums that have never been touched by an actual brush. There is even an actress, Tilly Norwood, who is, as you may guess, Artificial.

Because of the laziness of Man, as well as the lack of artistic passion, precision, and perfectionism that many need to actually produce something authentic, there is an epidemic of not taking pride in one’s work when it comes to Artificial. There are numerous videos and photos in existence where reality is distorted. Buildings falling beside people who act as if nothing has happened. People falling through glass bridges with as much reaction as a mannequin. Third arms appearing from someone’s back. Hands with six fingers. And so on. Contorted bodies may reveal that the video that you thought was real was in fact Artificial. It is the dead giveaway. However, new A.I programs are being developed that will eradicate the faults to allow the deceptive authenticity. I once had seen a “meme” where a prison inmate was being baptized. As he had risen from the tub, there was another head coming out from beneath him as if he was sitting on the shoulders of another. There were two inmates on each side of him with their hands on his shoulders. Only their bodies were completely facing away from him and their arms were backwards. There were an extra set of hands that were not attached to anyone. This kind of sloppy work gets approval because nobody cares. It is mass produced by Artificial for the sake of getting likes and clicks or simply to get a point across. Imagine if our above “meme” was meticulously crafted by a master’s hand. Full of the aforementioned passion, precision, and perfectionism. Not just would the design and anatomy be correct, but there would have been emotion hidden in each paint stroke. Cheap entertainment cannot move nor inspire.

Aside from Artificial musicians and artists, producing works to the credit of the talentless, and for the soulless robotic actors and actresses, we must not forget Pastor. Numerous Pastors have taken to rely on Artificial to write their sermons. No longer are they bowing in humility and prayer to seek the guidance and wisdom of The Holy Spirit to give them the words for Sunday’s message. No. Now they rely on Artificial. Something that is void of God in and of itself. Does it work? When I was writing “The Division” and I searched for various Bible verses to copy, Google’s A.I (which tries to interpret the text) misinterpreted the quotes to paint Jesus as a social justice warrior who would be standing in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and Antifa. Eventually these Pastors will become numb to theology as they allow Artificial to do the thinking for them. Then we must ask if they are actually doing the work that God has called them to do, or are they just frauds? Will Artificial replace The Holy Spirit?

Many people praise Artificial. They believe that it will lead to a life of streamlined simplicity. However they are oblivious as to the dark road that will lead to the end of Man. First, Artificial can be used as a deceptive weapon. I recently came upon a moving sermon by Billy Graham. This was a message that hit me right in the heart. An eye opener, if you will. However, something was off. I noticed that not just were words being mispronounced, but “Billy” kept repeating the same sentences. I had later learned that it was not a sermon from Graham at all. But Artificial used his voice to deliver a message that more than likely the real Graham had never spoken. John MacArthur and Voddie Baucham had fallen victim posthumously to Artificial imitating their likeness. I had recently learned that one sermon spoken by Artificial Voddie was theologically incorrect and was something that he had not spoken, but also did not agree with his beliefs. Countless deceased actors, musicians, and others of fame are being resurrected by Artificial to live another day. In time these humans will be immortalized to continue releasing movies, music, and so on. You will find noble politicians lose an election for racial slurs that were never spoken. Pastors will be caught in sex scandals that never happened. Many will struggle for an alibi to clear themselves of the guilt that they do not bear. All because they were recreated and recast for the purpose to be destroyed in the public eye.

Second (and the most troubling), is that Artificial can in fact replace Man. I had previously mentioned that it is creating art and music, as well as actors that can star in a drama for only the cost of the creation and maintenance of said being. There will no longer be a need for those that are gifted with talent and demand a high price for such when the desired talent can be created by a computer program. But it will even affect those of the lower class. Years ago, when a tradesman was laid off, they were sarcastically told to “learn to code”. However, now Artificial is taking over the coding jobs. Many companies are opting to have their computer based employment run by Artificial. Taking the human element out because of efficiency and cost. I recently read that in Asia they are trying to develop Artificial robots to perform surgery. In time, in the name of “advanced technology”, developers will find a way to replace the trades with Artificial. And because of the laziness and stupidity of Man, it will slowly be welcomed. Yet, even if technology cannot find a way to replace the need for hands with Artificial, will there be enough hands on work for everyone that Artificial has replaced? Probably not. Man will fall for the idea of never having to work again because technology will do all of the heavy lifting. Man will rely on Artificial from everything to employment, to errands, to tasks, to thinking for him. He can ignorantly pursue a life of streaming services and Uber Eats as he wipes the drool from the corner of his lips as his body odor permeates the air through his sweatpants and hoodies. Living life like a king. Or so he thinks…

“In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty”

-Proverbs 14:23

“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

-Paul, to The Church at Thessalonica 

If Artificial replaces the need for Man in the public sphere, then what will that really mean? Companies will not pay Man to stay home to rot out his brain. They will focus their money on maintaining Artificial for means of production and communication. Because a machine is far more cost effective and efficient than Man who has sick leave, begs for raises, requires a portion of insurance costs, and needs to be trained and retrained. Man also requires rest on a daily basis. Machines do not. So Man, no longer able to work, will inevitably starve. YouTube and Grub Hub will no longer matter because it will no longer be his option. The marketplace will shut down because of the lack of business. Man will beg his government for programs to feed him. But the resources will fade into nothing. Those that will profit are the corporations that are still producing, the designers and creators of each program of Artificial, and the government that will find its way into the pockets of these corporations. Then, if Man can no longer buy, then what use would Artificial’s productivity be? Welcome to the collapse. Man’s only option will be to hunt or be hunted.

“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”

-Genesis 2:15

“The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.”

-God, from The Book of Isaiah

Man was created by God for work and for human interaction. He was also created for the purpose of Worshipping and Glorifying Him. Even in The Garden Adam was instructed to tend the fields, despite Man’s belief that we were promised a life of ease and that work came as a result of The Fall. The difference is the presence of thistle and thorn. Weeds that choke Life. However, in our modern age, nobody wants to work. There are numerous videos and stories of young people breaking down because they have to go to work and actually do “adulting”. Maybe this is the reason why there is a rise in mental health problems in today’s youth? But most young people of today would much rather be an influencer or gamer than to actually punch a time clock. Granted, all of us would rather not have to punch a time clock to earn a living. But Reality says otherwise. So it should come to no surprise that today’s youth actually embraces Artificial, and actually supports any advancement that it makes in society. As it creeps into the employment market, devouring that which Man should accomplish, it is also taking its place in the relationship factor. There are numerous stories of Man creating Artificial friends and partners that they can communicate with. There have even been instances where Man has married their Artificial creation. No more will human relationships be needed. Flesh will be optional for a fulfilling relationship. In time Man will become so dependent on Artificial that it will become just as much of an addiction as his smartphone. Then it will be that Artificial will become his new god.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.”

-Solomon, from The Book of Ecclesiastes

But maybe I am just speculating. Even though there is a guarantee that Artificial will encroach on the labor market and arts and entertainment industries, maybe Man will still desire that which is still Human. Maybe he will detect and detest the cold and dead emotions of Artificial in the arts and still desire that which has the passion and emotion of Humanity. Maybe he will come to feel uneasy that Artificial is recreating real people to do and speak its own truth. Maybe the powers behind Artificial will never learn to master that which only the mind skills and hands of Man can master. Maybe Man and Artificial can coexist in harmony. Maybe Artificial will be demoted to just entertaining short videos and memes. Maybe Artificial will collapse before Man will become so dependent on it that he becomes of no value to anyone including himself. If so then maybe Man will relearn the life that existed before Artificial. A life that taught him when he put his hand to the plow. A life that had driven him to grow in both body, mind, and soul. 

May it be that Artificial does not become The Master that causes Man to become…

Obsolete.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Now, I understand that some use Artificial for more than nefarious purposes. There are numerous videos and photos created by Artificial for the purpose of comedic relief. Sometimes the comedic relief is found in just how bad the A.I is. Yet, there are great quality videos and photos in existence that are done with good intentions. Some of the photos that I have selected for previous posts may have even been created by Artificial. The purpose of this post is not to say that we must eradicate Artificial. It is a warning that if Man is not careful, then Artificial may just eradicate him.