It seems most of the reports about AI suggest it lends itself to nefarious purposes. Perhaps this is true. In the hands of the more virtuous, it can help also in the preparation of the Good News for hundreds of millions of people in many languages. Bible translation software processes human language much as traditional software handles data, using techniques collectively termed “Natural Language Processing” (NLP).
AI is now being used to process vast amounts of this text data to create “Large Language Models” (LLMs). These models have “dramatically improved the power of NLP, promising new ways to make the translation process more efficient, ensure the quality of Bible translations, and help researchers create high-quality resources for Bible translators.”
Bible translators say that “the possibilities are vast, and we are only beginning to explore them.” Christians need to pray for the use of AI to advance Bible translation, since the Gospel must be in the thousands of languages of the world for the fulfillment of Jesus’ words: “And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come” (Matthew 24:14).
Praise God for revealing tools which can help speed His return!
Source: “Artificial Intelligence and Bible Translation,” Biblical Archaeology Review, Winter 2023, pp. 62, 64.
