The Wonder of Synthetic Data and the Greatness of God in Science

Have you ever imagined that humans could create unreal data that is still useful for scientific research? This is called synthetic data, which is generated by artificial intelligence (AI) to mimic real data patterns. This technology is amazing because it helps scientists overcome data limitations, reduce bias, and speed up research. But behind its brilliance, there are also major challenges—ranging from the risk of misuse and ethical concerns to questions about the reliability of the data itself.

If we think deeper, doesn't this show how incredible God is in giving humans the intelligence to understand His creation? The Bible says in Psalm 19:1

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands"

God created this world with patterns, order, and natural laws that we can study. Now, with technological advancements, humans can imitate those patterns in the form of synthetic data. But one thing remains certain—only God creates absolute truth.

One of the concerns about synthetic data is the potential for misuse. Some people might be tempted to fabricate research results for personal gain. But God's Word has already warned us about this temptation in Leviticus 19:11,

"Do not steal, do not lie, and do not deceive one another"

Science should be used to seek truth, not to deceive. That’s why we must always prioritize honesty and integrity in every research endeavor.

Another challenge is bias in data. If AI is trained with unbalanced data, the results can be misleading. But this isn’t something new—even humans have a tendency to see things from their own perspective. That’s why God teaches us to be fair and impartial in Leviticus 19:15

"Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly"

In science, we must also ensure that the data we use truly represents reality, not just a certain viewpoint.

So, this technology reminds us that human knowledge has its limits. No matter how advanced AI and synthetic data become, there are truths that only God knows. The Bible says in Isaiah 55:8,

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways"

This means that while humans become smarter in creating models and data, only God possesses perfect knowledge.

So, as believers, how should we respond to these developments? It’s simple: we should be grateful for the wisdom God has given us, use technology responsibly, and always seek truth in everything we do. Science is not meant to compete with God but to help us admire His greatness even more!

Reference:

D.B. Resnik, M. Hosseini, J.J. Kim, G. Epiphaniou, & C. Maple, GenAI synthetic data create ethical challenges for scientists. Here’s how to address them., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 122 (9) e2409182122, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2409182122 (2025).