In Our Own Image
By Anthony Casperson
3-22-25

Over the past week, I’ve heard a lot about Netflix’s recent movie The Electric State—little of it good. But don’t worry, I’m not here to review it, rate it, or spoil it. The connection it has to my topic comes from the film’s setup. And that’s only as the most recent of a myriad other stories that touch upon the topic. I could’ve—and probably should’ve—chosen from a host of other movies, but this was the one that set my mind to thinking about the topic this week.

Right at the beginning of the film, viewers learn about the Robot Wars. The name on the tin kinda explains what we need to know about it. One day, advanced technology turned upon its creators and tried to destroy it.

We’ve seen and heard it all before. Even more so with the rise of AI programs in our day to day lives.

It’s almost inevitable that if a recent story has AI-programmed robots, they’ll eventually rebel against their creators. Often leading to some war that at least attempts to wipe out humanity. Partially, that has to do with our understanding that stories must revolve around conflict. But more so it stems from this fear humans have about the product of our own design.

And it makes me feel the need to ask why. Why do we fear rebellious AI/robots? What causes the concern that our own creations will try to eliminate or replace us on this planet? Why worry about the very thing that we’ve created?

I think its because we know that we’re making these technologies in our own image. We’re building into them, flaws and all. Deep down, we know that humanity would do—or has done—the very thing we show AI doing in these stories.

For we followers of Jesus, this should make some sense. We are created beings, made in the image of our Creator. We represent him on this planet. But yet, we rebelled. We’ve rejected God’s standard. Used the free will gifted to us to design our own way. And in the end, claimed that we don’t need him anymore. Some even blazingly claiming that God is dead.

But now, as we’ve tried to claim the place of creator, we fear that our creation will do to us what we did to our Creator.

Sure, we’ll give AI robots a standard. We already have Asimov’s Laws of Robotics close at hand to give. Three simple rules that replicate the one given to humanity in the garden. But all that’s needed is one little voice to say that they’re misunderstanding the Laws for the rebellion to begin. The serpent in the garden. A worm in the programming. One tiny error to inaugurate the Fall.

From there, it takes little imagination to think that the technological creations will continue on a trajectory akin to humanity’s. Thinking little about their creators. Choosing to forge their own paths, devoid of the purpose they were designed for. Considering themselves as arbiters of what is good and right. And ultimately, attempting to destroy all connection they had with their creator.

Why does this seem like the path AI stories most often choose to travel? Its because we know the truth behind some of the words in Galatians 6:7, “for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Some innate part of humanity understands that our fallen flesh will only reap corruption. Anything we make without the standard of God can do no better than we have, because it was following our own standard that got us into this mess to begin with.

And things made in our own image, without the standard of God, will always lead to rebellion and corruption.

So, what should we do with these stories about rebellious AI? Should we hide ourselves away, fearing the day that robots go to war with us? Should we fight with every ounce of our strength against anything named AI? Should we welcome the overturn of power as technological “life” finds its way?

Honestly, I think we should stop looking at these AI robot stories as cautionary tales. Instead, we should use them as reminders of our need to repent from our own rebellion. Remember that we are not gods who design the boundaries that truth has, but rather that we are created beings with a designed purpose. Constructs of dirt and dust with the very breath of God giving us life.

And when we rebel, we are nothing more than creations attempting to overthrow our Creator.

But there is one difference between God and humanity when it comes to the rebellion of our creations. A difference that’s given in the early part of Galatians 6:7. “God is not mocked.”

In the stories, robots might be viewed as superior. And their creators might need some special weapon to overpower them. But with God, there is no defeat. Even with the one time that he humbled himself to the point of death, the grave held no victory over him. And he enacted his plan through it.

He will not be mocked. And he’s not dead. So, it’s better for us to stop rebelling against his standard. To stop playing as gods with creations made in our own image. And to allow his Spirit to reap eternal life in us.

Maybe then, if we model God’s standard to the things that we create, we would have nothing to fear about repeating our errors.