I was 17 months old when Dr. King gave his final speech on April 3rd, 1968. I don’t know if that fact ages me or if it means I’m still quite young! Either way, the impact of his life on mine is undeniable.
Growing up in the Caribbean, I remember lessons and activities that highlighted his work, speeches, character, and determination. We were proud of him and what he stood for, and even though we weren’t American, we highly revered him as a black leader.
Today, specifically January 20th, 2025, means a lot of things to a lot of people. We have control over many things, such as whether we will watch the MLK Day services, or tune in to the inauguration… or both. We may prefer not to experience some things, but as much as we wish them away, they are our current reality, something we must accept and learn to do our best with and use to our advantage. One of these things is AI.
As we begin to learn more about AI and its numerous useful applications, I began to wonder, “What would Dr. King think about it? How would he feel about this emerging technology? Its capabilities, its shortfalls, the ethics of it, the good, the bad…” So, I turned to my trusted assistant, ChatGPT, and specifically asked, “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗔𝗜?” I did this because I wanted to see what it would say. I also wanted to demonstrate that even in its infancy, the technology is quite savvy and powerful. I was quite impressed with what it returned for my query. It has indeed given me something to think about as I spread the word about AI and how it can revolutionize the way we do everything.
Below is ChatGPT’s response regarding MLK and how he might approach the issue of AI if he were still here. This is the unedited, initial response to the simple questions of what Dr. King would think about AI.
“While it’s impossible to definitively say what Martin Luther King Jr. would think about AI, we can explore his values and ideals to imagine his perspective.
Dr. King was deeply committed to equality, justice, and the ethical use of power. He might view AI as a tool with immense potential for good but also as one that requires careful consideration to ensure it serves humanity equitably. Here’s how his thoughts might align with AI:
Potential Positive Perspectives:
- Advancing Equality: AI could be a force for good by providing access to education, healthcare, and opportunities, especially for marginalized communities. Dr. King might champion using AI to reduce systemic inequities.
- Improving Lives: He valued the dignity of work and well-being. AI’s ability to ease labor-intensive tasks and free people for meaningful activities might align with his vision of human dignity.
- Global Collaboration: AI fosters global connectivity, breaking down barriers between nations and people. This resonates with Dr. King’s dream of a “world house” where all humanity lives in harmony.
Cautions and Ethical Concerns:
- Bias in AI: Dr. King might raise concerns about AI systems perpetuating biases if not developed inclusively. He would likely advocate for fairness and transparency in AI algorithms.
- Economic Displacement: Automation can lead to job loss, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. Dr. King, a strong advocate for economic justice, might call for policies to ensure AI benefits all workers.
- Ethical Oversight: Dr. King believed in the moral responsibility of those in power. He would likely urge developers and governments to ensure AI aligns with ethical values and human rights.
Call to Action:
Dr. King might see AI as a tool that, when guided by love and justice, could help achieve the “Beloved Community” he envisioned—a world where technology uplifts rather than divides. He would probably emphasize collective responsibility to ensure AI serves humanity’s highest ideals.” OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com
Whatever our current feelings about AI, we have a responsibility to ensure that the man whose life and work we celebrate every year, that his dream for humanity continues to be a goal we strive toward. We have no idea how far this emerging technology will take us. But we do know we are at the cusp of its capabilities. Might this be the tool that can bring about World Peace? I don’t know, but I hope we can get close.
“Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.” Martin Luther King Jr.
