Artificial intelligence (AI) is arguably the most significant (and potentially disruptive) new technology since Gutenberg’s printing press. It is certainly as disruptive as the car, the airplane, radio, television, and the Internet.
As AI takes firm hold in our society, count on industries changing, jobs being lost, and people’s livelihoods being impacted.
I’m sure you fit into one of two camps: You regularly use AI or you’ve heard about AI. I honestly don’t see how there can be anyone in the twenty-first-century industrialized world who doesn’t fall into one of those categories.
This blog post is for those Christians who have heard of AI but are still confused about what it’s all about–those Christians who don’t fully understand it and aren’t sure how they should feel about it. If you’re familiar with AI, you may want to skip the next section (which explains the basics of AI), but you still might find the question of how Christians should feel about AI to be interesting.
What is AI (Artificial Intelligence)?
Let’s break it down in simple terms.
Imagine teaching a computer to do things that normally require a human brain. Things like:
- Seeing and recognizing objects
- Understanding language
- Solving problems
- Making decisions
That’s essentially what AI is. It’s about creating computer programs that can perform these “smart” tasks.
AI not only performs tasks. It learns.
Think about how you learned to ride a bike. You probably started with training wheels, right? You might have fallen a few times, but eventually, you got the hang of it. You learned through practice and experience.
AI works in a similar way. We “train” computers by feeding them lots of information and examples. The computer learns from this data and gets better at the task over time.
You’re probably already using AI without even realizing it. Here are a few examples:
- Smartphones: AI helps with things like voice assistants (like Siri or Google Assistant), facial recognition, and translation.
- Online Shopping: AI powers those recommendations that pop up, suggesting products you might like.
- Navigation Apps: Apps like Google Maps use AI to find the best routes and predict traffic.
Different Kinds of AI
There are different types of AI, and some are more advanced than others. Here are a couple of key ones:
- Narrow AI: This type of AI is designed for a specific task. Think of the technology that recommends shows for you to watch. It’s very good at that, but it can’t do much else.
- General AI: This is a more advanced form of AI that can perform a wide range of intellectual tasks, much like a human. This type of AI is still being developed.
Let’s talk about Narrow AI since this is what most everyday AI users are familiar with. It’s tricky to give a definitive, fixed number of ‘subsets’ of Narrow AI because the field is constantly developing, and new applications emerge frequently. However, here are some of the main ways Narrow AI is used:
- AI That Learns: AI can learn from data to make predictions or decisions. This is called Machine Learning. For example, it’s used to identify spam emails and recommend products you might like.
- AI That Understands Language: AI can also understand and use human language. This is called Natural Language Processing. Examples of this include computers translating languages and answering questions through chatbots.
- AI That Sees and Creates: AI can also ‘see’ and interpret images and create new content. For instance, Computer Vision allows AI to recognize faces or objects in pictures and videos. Generative AI (this one’s super popular right now) can create new things like text (articles, reports, poems, social media posts, books, etc), artwork, and music.
It’s important to note that we’re just scratching the surface here. And these areas often overlap. What’s more, new applications of AI are constantly being developed.
Christians and AI
Should God’s people be concerned about AI? How should we feel about AI? Should we be using it? Or should we resist?
It’s understandable to have some concerns about AI. After all, it’s a powerful technology. And, while some may disagree with me on this point, I believe (as the Borg say in Star Trek): Resistance is futile. Barring some apocalyptic scenario that wipes out all technology, AI is here to stay–at least until Jesus returns and rules His kingdom.
However, as Christians, we can approach AI with a balanced perspective, grounded in biblical principles:
- God is still in control: As believers, we know that God is ultimately sovereign. “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all” (Psalm 103:19). We don’t need to fear that AI will somehow overthrow God’s authority. That said…
- AI will factor into the “End Times”: I have no doubt that the Internet, social media, and AI will all play a part in the “End Times.” When you see the biblical prophecies of what’s to come, you can (I’m sure) imagine how modern technology (including AI) makes some of those scenarios more possible than ever before. But…
- AI is a tool: Like the computer or the Internet, AI can be used for good or ill. That AI will be used by the Enemy doesn’t mean God’s people can’t use it for good. We can use AI for noble purposes.
- Wisdom and discernment are essential: The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the importance of wisdom. Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” We need to use wisdom in how we develop and utilize AI. This includes:
- Ethical considerations: We should be mindful of the potential for AI to be used for good or evil. We must strive to use it in ways that honor God and love our neighbor.
- Avoiding idolatry: We must not place our trust or hope in AI, as if it were the answer to all our problems. Our ultimate hope is in God alone.
- Protecting human dignity: We should ensure that AI is used in ways that value and uphold human life, recognizing that we are all created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
- AI cannot replace human connection: AI can be a helpful tool, but it can’t replace the love, compassion, and relationships that are so important. Colossians 3:12 reminds us to “put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.” These are qualities that AI cannot replicate.
- Be informed and engaged: Rather than ignoring AI, Christians should seek to understand it. This will allow us to have informed conversations and contribute to shaping its development in positive ways.
The Bottom Line
AI is a complex and rapidly evolving field. But at its core, it’s about teaching computers to think and learn. As we move forward, it’s important to approach AI with both curiosity and discernment, trusting in God’s guidance every step of the way.
I’ll post some blog posts in the coming days and weeks about how Christians and churches can use AI–ethically and effectively. I will also, later in 2025, elaborate more on how I see AI playing out in the future, particularly with respect to biblical eschatology.
For now, I wanted this post to serve as an introduction to AI itself.
God bless you!
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