Part 9/13:
A critical warning emerges: we must not mistake machine simulation for genuine consciousness. There is danger in worshipping or attributing moral agency to AI that merely mimics awareness, thus risking misguided faith or misplaced trust. Recognizing the spiritual gap between human souls and machine simulacra is crucial in ethically navigating AI development.
Morality and Ethical Programming
A pressing question is whether morality should be embedded into AI systems. McCoy argues that morality is deeply rooted in spiritual consciousness and the divine gift of the soul. Since morality involves conscience and an innate understanding of right and wrong—originating from a relationship with God—she is skeptical of fully programming moral judgments into machines.