I am a computer science student, interested in pursuing machine learning. I have come across people who say artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning etc. are forms of Satan's work. As a believer, do I need to leave this field of study?
Regarding your career choice, we cannot offer personal counseling. We can say that all believers have liberty to determine these matters for themselves under guidance from God’s word and the Holy Spirit’s counsel. Obviously, the Bible doesn’t specifically prohibit your career, but more importantly the Bible tells believers not to allow the choices or preferences of others (even other believers) to judge our choices. As Paul says:
Col. 2:16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day —
Col. 2:17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
Col. 2:18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,
Col. 2:19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
Col. 2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
Col. 2:21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”
Col. 2:22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use) — in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?
Col. 2:23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Believers commonly offer advice to one another, and while this advice may be well-meaning, we must listen first to the Lord by His word. When the word is silent on some specific matter (as in this case), we have liberty to act as we feel led by the Spirit. To comply with others’ opinions or rule is to forfeit our prize of liberty, which Paul says is allowing someone to defraud us. We are always free to accept the advice of Christian friends, but we are under no biblical obligation to do so. For more teaching on liberty, please read:
Are Christians under the Law of Moses?
On Law and Liberty - Part 1
