WALKING IN WISDOM: A Q&A WITH DR. THOMAS WHITE Artificial intelligence is reshaping nearly every sector of society. At Cedarville, our response is neither fear nor blind enthusiasm but engagement with biblical discernment. Doesn't AI make cheating easier — and what is Cedarville doing about it? Yes, AI creates new academic integrity challenges. Rather than playing an unwinnable game of detection, we are redesigning assessment. Some faculty are incorporating in-class writing, oral defenses, process portfolios, and assignments requiring personal reflection and critical engagement with AI-generated material. The goal isn't just catching cheaters; it's forming people of integrity. What's the value of a Cedarville degree when anyone can learn from a chatbot? Information is not formation. A chatbot can transfer information, but it cannot form character. Libraries didn't replace professors, and AI won't replace the "1000 Days" of spiritual formation, mentorship, and shared community at Cedarville. Education is more than just acquiring knowledge; it is becoming a certain kind of person. Employers seek trustworthy, mature, creative graduates — not merely information-holders. How are students being trained in what NOT to use AI for? AI predicts words based on patterns — it has no soul, no conscience, no repentance, and no genuine love. We teach students that AI must not replace their own thinking, voice, relationships, or spiritual growth. Struggling is a natural part of learning. Outsourcing intellectual work to AI is like hiring someone else to complete your physical therapy — you miss the very growth the exercise was designed to produce. AI can assist; it cannot substitute for effort or personal growth. I think of AI more as a thought partner, not a content creator. How is Cedarville helping students see AI as a tool rather than a companion? AI is a powerful tool, but it is not a teacher, friend, or therapist. It predicts patterns; it does not possess wisdom, conscience, or love. We emphasize the irreplaceable value of embodied community, pastoral care, and the Holy Spirit’s work in a believer’s life. Students must learn to leverage technology without leaning on it for identity or counsel. Will AI replace jobs at Cedarville — and will it hurt students' job searches? Yes, some jobs will be replaced, but more will be transformed. Technology historically reshapes work more than it eliminates it. The greater risk is graduating students who are unprepared for an AI-integrated workplace. AI literacy combined with integrity and people skills will move Cedarville graduates to the front of the hiring line. Can AI coexist with good creation stewardship? It must. AI carries environmental and ethical costs, including energy use and inherent bias. We encourage students to factor these realities into their decisions. Technology should serve human flourishing and the common good, not undermine them. AI needs to grow and develop, and over time, our community needs to insist that this growth occurs. How is Cedarville protecting the value of human creativity? Human creativity reflects the Creator. AI can generate content, but it cannot worship, testify, or bear God’s image. We are doubling down on what is irreducibly human: intentional discipleship, authentic community, worship, and the proclamation of the Word. By emphasizing the Imago Dei, we teach that human creativity flows from a soul — something an algorithm can simulate but never possess. AI is a powerful servant but a terrible master. 7
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