In an era of ‘fake news’ and shifting opinions, what can we actually rely on? In the world of technology, experts use a term called ‘Ground Truth’—the ultimate, verified fact used to train complex systems. But ground truth isn’t just for computers; it is the bedrock of our spiritual lives.
What Is Ground Truth?
This is the first article in a series dealing with ground truth. Ground truth is indispensable. It is the bedrock for our lives. We could not survive if it wasn’t for the concept and reality of truth.
You may have heard the term ground truth in the media, but what is ground truth? Ground truth is simply something that can be relied upon as being the source of truth. Whether it is labelled data used for deep learning (DL), medical images such as magnetic resonance images (MRI), or a host of other sources of data. Ground truth is what is considered to be the ultimate source of what is factual, what is right, or simply “what is”.
We use forms of ground truth in our everyday lives. As young children we soon collect a wealth of ground truths such as not touching a hot stove because if we do, we’ll get burned (here the ground truth is heat that can cause burns which cause pain). Another ground truth we learn is to look all ways before crossing the road since if we don’t there could be the likelihood of being hit by a car.
Why Ground Truth Matters
The use of the term ground truth has exploded in the last decade due to DL. In brief, DL is a branch of machine learning which seeks to train computer systems to be able to make decisions on data based only on being “trained”.
An example from the medical field would illustrate the use of ground truth. A radiologist is a doctor who looks at medical images and interprets what he or she “sees” in the image. If signs of malignancy are evident then the radiologist will say in their diagnosis that cancerous features are evident in the image.
Computers can be trained to do the same thing by looking at thousands of images that have been “labeled”. Labeling is the process of an expert looking at an image and commenting on the features that he sees in the image. The computer has two sets of ground truth data: images where cancer is evident and images where the features are benign.
By looking at thousands of ground truth images, the computer can be trained to recognize cancer from non-cancer. It is all based on the availability of ground truth images. Without ground truth, DL would be impossible since there would be no source of “what is”. In fact, were it not for ground truth, society could not exist.
The Bible as Ground Truth
The Bible is the source of ground truth since the God who authored it is the ultimate source of truth. Although the expression ground truth doesn’t appear in the Bible the concept certainly does.
The Lord Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). When He said these words it was not communicated at a large gathering, or sent out by multi-media and done in response to the recommendations of spin doctors. He said these words because they were true. Saying otherwise would have been lying. He could say these words because He is the way, the truth, and the life.
In one sense He is the only one that could be “labeled” as being the truth. He is the only one who was without sin. We sin so much that it becomes second nature to us. Nobody has to be taught how to lie, steal, or cheat. We are experts at these because of an in-bred nature that sins.
But not so Jesus Christ. He challenged His hearers by saying “which of you convicts me of sin?” (John 8:46). There were none who could because the Lord Jsus is without sin. He is the only one qualified to be ground truth because He is the only one untainted by sin.
Subsequent articles will explore further truth claims in the Bible and the use of ground truth and invite the reader back to learn more about ground truth.