This topic is explaining and exploring how some of the new "Artificial Intelligence" apps might be used by Sunday School students to create and share their thoughts, responses, and reflections on lesson content -- and generate shareable content.
Your examples, experience, and thoughtful insights are welcome.
Students using AI to create "Computer Generated Art"
In March 2023, Microsoft Bing released their test version of BING IMAGE CREATOR, a free browser-based way to generate artistic images merely through the use of KEYWORDS. It uses the DALL-E image generator engine, the first of its kind. It was developed by OpenAI, a nonprofit research lab.
It uses artificial intelligence (software that can learn and create) to create various original images with effects based on the keywords and style of art you have told it to use.
It's really FUN to use, the results are often surprising, and I could immediately sense its use in Sunday School lessons where kids are asked to reflect or imagine. (More about that in a moment.)
In this example, I simply typed "boy thinking about God in style of Van Gogh" and here's what the computer generated.
David and Goliath in the style of Minions
Goliath in the style of Picasso
The images can be copied and downloaded or shared across the web. You can continue to refine your keywords, or simply keep re-entering the same keywords to see new images. Some keywords are currently not allowed to be used. "Jesus" for example will return an "under review" remark.
Bing's How to Use Image Creator (really so simple you don't need to read it).
WHY?
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit gave the disciples the gift of being understood in the language of the HEARER. Any tool that can help kids enjoy, connect with, and reflect on the Word is a tool worth exploring.
And NO...
I'm not suggesting we replace art projects. I'm a Rotation Model enthusiast and we believe in using MANY different mediums to teach Bible stories. Many Rotation Model Sunday Schools have a classroom that uses technology to help teach. Teaching a lesson where kids create their AI generated content is just another tool, albeit, fun one, in our teaching toolbox.
"Mountains fingerpaint"
"Elijah on Mt Carmel fingerpainting"
"Fire, Elijah, Prophets of Baal, Mt Carmel, Fingerpainting"
How does Bing Image Creator (DALL-E) work?
The software was trained by showing it millions of images from the internet that have descriptive keywords so that it knows what a "mountain" looks like, for example and be able to draw something similar. The software engine was also trained to recognize and draw in the style and colors of words like "fingerpainting" and most other major styles. It then combines the two results into a number of possibilities which it shows you. As you can keep refining your keywords it will produce new results. The software is not using anyone's actual images, it is creating anew. As the engine softare evolves the results will get better.
Kid-friendly?
OpenAI, the developers of Bing's Image Creator, have created rules to filter out what it considers inappropriate content. Some keywords get "flagged for review" and if approved, may not appear in your browser for several minutes. Interestingly, "Jesus" gets a review flag. "God" does not.
