AI is Here. How will God's people respond? Thoughts from Missional AI Summit in Dallas

AI is here. It affects how we live, work, and connect.

And, it's only going to advance, perhaps exponentially.

So, what does this mean for the Church and global missions? This was the big question at the Missional AI Summit. It wasn't just about tech; it was about how we, as believers, can use this tool for God's glory and His kingdom.

This AI moment is a Gospel moment.

— Dr. Kay, AI Theologian for FaithTech

I heard about this encouraging quote from Wes Brooks in his talk on Venture AI.

As AI grows, especially in how it mimics human interaction, people are asking deep questions about their worth. Who better to answer these than the Church, which knows our worth comes from being made in God's image? We can't miss this moment like a lot of us did with social media.

1. Using AI for the Great Commission: Reaching More People, More Effectively

AI has the potential to boost evangelism, discipleship, and Bible engagement. How can it help fulfill the Great Commission, especially in tough regions? Here are some ideas:

• Breaking Down Language Barriers: Using blockchains for decentralized Bible access in censored areas is one way. AI can help with Bible translation, even for languages that are hard to reach.

• Personalized & Scalable Ministry: AI can help ministries understand their audience and tailor communication. It allows ministries to scale without needing a large staff.

• AI Agents and Chatbots: These tools can interact with people, answer faith questions, and guide Bible study. They handle initial inquiries and let humans step in when needed.

• Understanding Faith Journeys: AI analyzes testimonies to map spiritual pathways, helping us understand and support seekers better.

2. Responsible Stewardship and Ethical Considerations

While AI has great potential, we need to be careful. Technology is a tool, and it can be used for good or bad. Be careful to spot:

• Bias: AI models carry biases, and we need to ensure they align with biblical values.

• Accuracy and Hallucination: AI can provide answers that don't align with a Christian worldview. We need benchmarks to test for biblical accuracy.

• Privacy and Security: Handling sensitive data, especially from seekers in restricted areas, requires careful attention.

• Manipulation: We need transparency and to ensure AI complements, not replaces, genuine human connection.

3. The Power of Collaboration and Open Source

Collaboration and open-source technology were big themes.

• Building Together: The church is stronger together. Open source allows us to learn from each other and prevent wasted resources.

• Sharing Resources: Sharing open-source code and tools makes AI accessible to more churches and ministries.

• Injecting Values: Building open-source Christian AI allows us to inject Christian values into the technology.

• Community and Sustainability: Successful open-source projects build community and share the load.

4. AI as a Tool, Complementing Human Ministry

AI is a tool, not a replacement for human ministry.

• It can empower individuals and ministries, breaking down barriers and increasing capacity.

• But it must always complement human relationships, prayer, and community.

• The goal is to make communications feel personal, not impersonal.

If you're interested in designing or using AI in a way that honors God and those who use it, I think you'll enjoy reading the Unofficial Rules for AI Apps for Christians.

Shaping the Future

A personal conviction I have is that we have been given dominion over AI by God. We need to shape AI, not just be shaped by it.

We have Gloo Open and Apologist Project who are doing incredible work to make LLM's aligned with and trained on the Truth of God.

For example, if you use ChatGPT in your project today, consider hot-swapping it out for Apologist Fusion. Yes, it can be as easy as a one-liner change to use an LLM that is Gospel aligned.

Now, go step into this Gospel moment.