Does the AI functionality help or hurt?

Preface - I just upgraded to L10 Ultimate and am investigating. Looking for feedback, not war. :-)

Here is my premise...

As I do my research, I use Logos and books off my shelf to follow and track the subject I'm researching. In the process, I'm picking up valuable insight into the topic, the words used, the intent, the culture and timeframe, even seeing how it relates to different "tangents" that aren't the subject but are to some degree related.

The question...

When using AI as it is implemented in Logos, are we being dumbed down when it comes to the process of researching the Word? All the results I've seen in the videos and such, I see people stopping there and not digging deeper.

Of course, there should be personal accountability and that we should be performing due diligence. We tend to be lazy at times, though, myself included. People will move on instead dig deeper.

The study process is a big part of the journey of moving from milk to meat. At least, that's how I look at it.

So, it still leads to the question... Wil AI help or hurt?

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John Fidel

Hi Tom,

Good questions. My question for you is how do you find those books you are studying within your Logos Library? If you have a question and want to run a search, can you adequately use the Boolean formulas to get resources that may answer your questions?

AI in Logos is really advanced searching to find answers to your questions in your resources (Book search) or the entire Logos library (All search) using natural language. The synopsis is footnoted so you can, and should follow up further. In addition I have found that the AI search in Logos often bring resources to my attention that would never have entered my mind to look at.

It is a tool for me to use. For me it enhances my study rather than dumbing it down.

An analogy: does using an electric screw driver ruin the process of putting something together over the old manual screw driver?

Just my opinion.

Tom Lutz

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1321411#Comment_1321411

Thank you for the response!

I usually chain reference during my study. Click through and study as I go or turn to pages or open other resources that may have something that "comes to mind" as I'm digging.

I have to be honest, typing a specified search via "code" isn't something I've gotten into yet. I still go through and dig manually. If I'm honest, I do it on purpose to see where it leads me.

As for the screwdriver... I see it helping but not making me strong enough to do it manually when I need to. Of course, that leads me back to the original question...lol. I should be able to dig into the Word without the tools, too.

Lew Worthington

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1321411#Comment_1321411

An analogy: does using an electric screw driver ruin the process of putting something together over the old manual screw driver?

That's a good comparison. And, as with AI, some people believe it does.

I think I may have mentioned this before, I but I think Thoreau complained that when we learn to ride the train, we forget how to walk. I think he's right in theory but wrong in practice. I drive a car, but I still walk.

As with AI, I have also been warned about the overuse of commentaries, grammar checkers, spell checkers, and computers in general; and the same could be applied to using any secondary resources and even to grammars and lexicons because on some level, we're not doing the research ourselves.

Hmm. Maybe that sounds too extreme, but my point is that in almost all those cases, someone or something is doing work to help our discovery. But in each case, we have the opportunity to verify their input with our own digging.

Now that I think about it, I want to thank you, Tom, for helping me flesh out my approach to using AI! [:)]

John Fidel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1321413#Comment_1321413

Thank you for the response!

I usually chain reference during my study. Click through and study as I go or turn to pages or open other resources that may have something that "comes to mind" as I'm digging.

I have to be honest, typing a specified search via "code" isn't something I've gotten into yet. I still go through and dig manually. If I'm honest, I do it on purpose to see where it leads me.

As for the screwdriver... I see it helping but not making me strong enough to do it manually when I need to. Of course, that leads me back to the original question...lol. I should be able to dig into the Word without the tools, too.

I guess this could be said of Logos itself rather than going to the library and searching through the shelves, then seeing if there is anything on your subject etc.

I think this is a personal issue and how the tool is used and how one studies. There is no one right answer. If it causes you concern, then you should not use it. For me, it is an awesome tool that helps me study the Word with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Wild Eagle

When using AI as it is implemented in Logos, are we being dumbed down when it comes to the process of researching the Word? All the results I've seen in the videos and such, I see people stopping there and not digging deeper.

So, it still leads to the question... Wil AI help or hurt?

You can come to the same conclusion if you use Logos search instead of digging paper books in the library. it all depends what you do with the time that you saved by using AI. You can research deeper with AI since you get ex time, or you are satisfied with the outcome and study less.

Tom Lutz

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1321421#Comment_1321421

This is correct, that one could use this argument for anything technology and that's not my intent. I enjoy using Logos and what it does for me.

I see benefits to AI on bringing all our books together, assuming AI excludes those books that are not Christian by nature. I also know that I'm not always in front of the computer, laptop, tablet or phone and won't have access to Logos when answers are needed.

I think I'm biased by my 12 year old daughter. She hasn't been taught how to write cursive in school even though one day she will be signing checks and authorizing this or that by writing her name in cursive. If it weren't for going through the work of learning it at home she would only know how to print her name instead of signing it.

My original post is to dig into the thought process and what it "may or may not" do to our study of the Word.

In any case, the Holy Spirit will guide where we need to go no matter what tools we have or don't have.

James Chandler

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1321434#Comment_1321434

I'll admit I was a bit skeptical about this. After I saw what it could do, I saw it as a benefit. The idea of getting a summary of the text and generating questions for a portion of scripture appealed to me.

William Tolp

Great question and responses. I believe, like any technology, it could be abused. That being said, how it is used or abused is completely in the hands of each of us who use it.

I have submitted a question in another thread regarding potential upgrades to the AI. As one who is using Logos for Academic Paper research (I'm pursuing my first doctorate with the intent to pursue my Ph.D afterwards). I have been studying for my Doctoral Thesis paper and have over 6 months of research currently accomplished. In Logos I have a Notebook of Notes for all of my doctoral research. I recently began writing the first draft. The amount of time it takes to go back through all of those notes to gather which quotes to use in the paper is daunting to say the least. How much more efficient and time saving would it be if I could use an AI command "Organize Doctoral Thesis Notebook by Book and in chronological order"? Bam! Done. Now I can spend more time refining the paper, rather than sifting through a mountain of quotations and data. Another Command which would simplify the writing process: "Produce a Bibliography from all sources in Doctoral Thesis Notebook", rather than having to open every source I used and produce one that way? Being able to give Logos AI audible commands, using the system microphone would be a plus as well. Just a few ideas I think could be implemented where AI would greatly benefit those using it for Academic research.

Another application of AI that would be beneficial would be the ability to take an audio recording of one's sermon or Sunday School Lesson and have AI transcribe it from the audio. That would then allow one to edit it and publish the sermon more quickly, thereby benefitting the body of Christ as those sermons become available online. I'd be interested to hear some of the ideas many of you may have on this subject.

In answer to the original question. AI will hurt those who are not diligent, and will greatly benefit those who are. Learning to harness tech for the benefit of the body of Christ and our own personal walk with Christ, has zero negatives in my opinion. I would also add, that by AI streamlining and shortening the amount of time it takes to research a passage, produce a sermon, etc. That now leaves one with more time for something that most of us sadly neglect (myself included): prayer and meditation on the passage we are studying, both of which are of a vital necessity for our relationship with Christ and power upon our preaching and teaching. The question will be, will we use that extra time for those necessary purposes, or fill that time with things of the world?

xnman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1321472#Comment_1321472

And whether one likes it or not, AI is part of what is called "progress". Progress cannot be stopped. It might be slowed down, but progress will go on.

Can you imagine how the "cowboys" fought the coming of the automobile? AI is here to stay, argue against if you will, but it "ain't" going away. [8-|]

Tom Lutz

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1321472#Comment_1321472

Keep it coming! I'm really liking the feedback :-)

I like the idea of being able to compile based on a user selection set like that. Especially when writing papers, articles, or even books, I can definite see how that can help.

Talking selection sets, can you define it currently to only return a result based on a, for example, denomination or other defining attribute?

Justin Gatlin

When you think about how many times John Wesely and George Whitfield preached a week with a Bible and a horse, you do have to wonder why we are all such wimps [:)]

Can anyone really say sermons have improved since the ballpoint pen's invention?

Justin Gatlin

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1321514#Comment_1321514

Talking selection sets, can you define it currently to only return a result based on a, for example, denomination or other defining attribute?

Yes. In a books search, you can click "your books" and replace it with any collection.

xnman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1321527#Comment_1321527

Talking selection sets, can you define it currently to only return a result based on a, for example, denomination or other defining attribute?

Yes. In a books search, you can click "your books" and replace it with any collection.

Or you can replace it with just a book....

Justin Gatlin

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1321580#Comment_1321580

Or you can replace it with just a book....

What is a book but a very small collection?