Who's Responsible When AI Gets It Wrong?

A Timely Novel That Raises Questions We Can't Afford to Ignore

Key points:

The Proving Ground is inspired by the real court case Megan Garcia v Character Technologies, exploring the dangers young people face when interacting with AI.
The novel raises hard questions about guilt and intent when the accused isn’t human, and whether enough safeguards exist to protect the vulnerable.
As followers of Christ, we are reminded that in a rapidly changing world, Jesus Christ remains our source of truth.

In a world that is changing and evolving before our eyes, we are seeing both wonderful advancements that benefit humanity, but we are also seeing an increase in potentially dangerous technologies. The Proving Ground merely scratches the surface.

While this novel is a work of fiction, Michael Connelly draws inspiration from the true story of Megan Garcia vs Character Technologies, a court case that tackles the reality of AI and the dangers young people face when interacting with it.

Honestly, I sometimes struggle to get into court dramas simply because my tired brain can’t always keep up with the jargon. Something about The Proving Ground pulled me in, though.

Perhaps it’s the compelling style of Michael Connelly’s writing, or perhaps it’s the fact that we have a whole generation of children and young people turning to Artificial Intelligence for medical advice, relationship and career advice, and even religious direction.

The main protagonist, Mickey Haller, has his work cut out for him as he brings before the courts a tragic tale of a life cut short, with an AI chatbot names as the guilty party.

The novel raises questions that extend well beyond the courtroom:

How do you prove intent and guilt when the accused isn’t human?

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Which humans are to blame in these situations – the children? The parents? The creators?

Are there enough safety measures in place to protect the most vulnerable, so they can continue to engage with AI in a healthy, safe way?

At the end of the day, Artificial Intelligence isn’t going away. But as followers of Christ, we need to remember the source of truth: Jesus Christ.

We need to ensure our children and young people know this too.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 (NIV)

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God and my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:5 (NIV)

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Feature image: Supplied (Canva Pro)