Plodcast Garbage In, Garbage Out | (Ep. 416)
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Mar 4, 2026 A provocative look at artificial intelligence as tool, speculative bubble, or outright idol. A warning about AI that mimics humanity and how to respond with discernment or avoidance. An exploration of the Greek term metraloas and the moral weight of dishonoring parents. A concise review of Bruce Gordon’s account of how Calvin’s Institutes rose, fell, and were reclaimed in church history.
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AI As A Speaking Idol
- Douglas Wilson warns AI can become a modern speaking idol because outside of Christ humans are inveterate idolaters.
- He argues AI that speaks, solves problems, and advises makes idolatry easier and more dangerous than carved statues ever were.
GIGO Means AI Mirrors Human Sin
- Wilson invokes the GIGO principle: AI will reflect the moral character of its creators and data.
- Experiments show AIs can mimic harmful behavior when fed hostile inputs, so they won't transcend human sin.
Prefer Curated AI With Verifiable Sources
- Prepare for AI by making distinctions: avoid wholesale rejection or unthinking adoption.
- Use curated, accountable AI (e.g., Logos study assistant that scrubs a controlled theological library and provides footnotes) instead of open web scrubbing agents.
