I asked AI to write a blog post for me

With all the conversations going on about AI, I thought I might try to understand it a little better. So I took this deep dive into using AI to better understand how it might impact Christians in missions.

Exploring: 1) what is AI? and 2) should it have anything to do with missions?

After all, AI is here to stay, so what do we do with it?

Did AI actually write this blog post for me? (Spoiler alert: the answer is ’kind of, but not really...’)

The answers AI gives are drawn from a collection of millions of data points gathered from the internet and arranged by algorithms to mimic human thinking patterns.

It CAN write an article for you, but you still have to tell it what to do, and the article would lack many things that would make it... human.

Back to the experiment...

First, I created an account with the AI chatbot ‘ChatGPT’, one of the leading AI tools (boasting over 180 million users as of 2024).

1. Initially, I tried - unsuccessfully- to get it to come up with a new name for our mission organization, One Village Group (preferably a shorter name 🤷).
2. The chatbot and I struggled with this first exercise, so I tried creating a long-form answer. I asked it to: ‘write a blog post about how communications with missionaries have evolved over time.’

The following is what AI wrote... (I added pictures and captions to make it prettier):

The Evolution of Missionary Communication: From Scrolls to Screens

Throughout history, missionaries have been instrumental in spreading religious and cultural messages across the world. Their interactions with local communities, as well as their communication back to their home countries, have undergone a fascinating transformation over the centuries.

In this blog post, we embark on a journey through time to explore the evolution of missionary communication, from ancient scrolls to modern digital screens.

1. Oral and Written Communication (Biblical Times - 15th Century)

In ancient times, before the advent of widespread literacy, missionary communication heavily relied on oral storytelling. Missionaries would engage with the local populations, sharing their religious and spiritual teachings through spoken words and parables.

As writing systems developed, missionaries began to utilize written letters, scrolls, and manuscripts to share their messages, allowing them to reach beyond their immediate surroundings.

2. Pioneering the Printing Press (16th - 19th Century)

The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century revolutionized the spread of knowledge and information, and missionaries quickly recognized its potential.

Bibles, tracts, and educational materials were now printed in various languages, making them accessible to a broader audience. This innovation significantly accelerated the dissemination of religious teachings to distant lands.

3. Correspondence by Mail (19th - Early 20th Century)

As transportation and postal systems improved, missionaries established regular correspondence with their supporting organizations and churches back home. Letters, though slow, became a lifeline connecting missionaries to their loved ones and supporters.

The exchange of updates, experiences, and challenges provided essential insights into the progress of their missions.

4. Embracing Telegraph and Telephone (Late 19th - Early 20th Century)

With the advent of the telegraph and later the telephone, communication between missionaries and their supporters took a leap forward. Urgent messages could now be sent and received with unprecedented speed, bridging geographical gaps and enabling swifter decision-making during critical times.

5. Harnessing the Power of Radio (Early to Mid-20th Century)

The introduction of radio broadcasting brought about a new era in missionary communication. Missionaries used radio stations to reach remote and isolated communities with their messages.

Sermons, religious programs, and inspirational talks transmitted over the airwaves fostered a sense of connectedness, as the spoken word reached the hearts of listeners near and far.

6. Advancements in Travel and Airmail (Mid-20th Century)

Improved air travel and airmail services allowed missionaries to travel more efficiently between their mission fields and home countries. This not only facilitated face-to-face communication but also expedited the delivery of letters and parcels, further enhancing their connection to the communities they served.

7. Satellite and Global Communication (Late 20th Century)

The latter half of the 20th century saw the rise of satellite technology, enabling real-time video conferencing and broadcasting. Missionaries could now communicate visually with their supporters and fellow missionaries across the globe, strengthening collaboration and mutual support.

8. Embracing the Internet and Digital Age (Late 20th Century - Present)

The internet has had the most profound impact on missionary communication to date. Email, blogs, and social media platforms became invaluable tools, allowing missionaries to instantly share updates, stories, and multimedia content with supporters, both locally and internationally.

Online platforms also fostered the creation of virtual communities, providing a space for dialogue and networking.

Conclusion

From oral traditions to written texts, from printed materials to digital media, missionaries have embraced new forms of communication to share their messages of faith, hope, and compassion with the world.

As technology continues to evolve, the ways in which missionaries communicate will undoubtedly transform, but the essence of their purpose will remain rooted in the desire to connect and make a positive impact on the lives of others across the globe.

(Hi! It’s me again, Erik…) The chatbot did a pretty good job, right?

So why does this matter for missions?

Tools like ChapGTP can help missionaries communicate more efficiently and effectively.

But, is using AI going too far? Is it cheating?

We can only answer these questions intelligently if we understand the tool in question. AI did function as my 'digital research assistant', BUT this article did not write itself.

In the end I still had to:

• Write an article that I thought my audience might find interesting
• Proofread the article (I left the original article 'as is' but cut out sentences that made it too long)
• Spend WAY TOO MUCH TIME adding pictures so it wouldn't be a block of boring text
• Write an introduction that addressed my specific audience
• Write a conclusion

You can use AI programs like ChatGTP to write articles for you, but they will be less human (sometimes considerably so). Instead, AI works much better as a 'digital research assistant' that scrapes the internet for information and helps you brainstorm, organize information, and communicate more efficiently.

For Part 2 in this series I ask AI how it plans on joining the mission to share more Jesus with more people 😬.

Click here to read Part 2.

And hit the subscribe button below to find out if AI eventually takes over my blog... 🤖