Should We Use Generative AI Chatbots for Ministry?
Editor’s Note: Is generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) a morally neutral tool helpful for generating sermon outlines and small group discussions? Or is it something attractive on the surface but deceptive in its core—which we should avoid in our ministries? As with other issues not directly discussed in Scripture, navigating GenAI calls for a lot of […]
5 Questions for Church Leaders to Ask About Generative AI
With the rise of generative AI, are we closer to Clippy, your old animated friend from Microsoft Office 97—or to the Terminator? Are we closer to Buzz Lightyear or to the AI-run jet from the movie Stealth? Here are some snapshots of where we are: An AI-generated work took first place in a Colorado state […]
Review of ‘The Anxious Generation’ by Jonathan Haidt
The title of Jonathan Haidt’s new book is not remotely controversial or debatable. That Gen Z is a uniquely anxious generation is demonstrated time and time again both in anecdotal experiences and in survey data. And this book has plenty of both. In fact, one of the most helpful things about The Anxious Generation was […]
Why the Risks of Artificial Intelligence Should Disturb Us—and Inspire Hope
It has been fifty-five years since Stanley Kubrick sounded the alarm regarding artificial intelligence (AI). In his film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Kubrick envisioned a day when a computer could be taught to transcend its programming. Inventors of such technological advancements mean well: to advance the powers of humankind for good purposes. But Kubrick drew […]
6 Takeaways from Our Learning Community Event on Artificial Intelligence
On Thursday, March 16, we held our latest Learning Community event for the almost 280 senior ministers/pastors in the Renew.org Network. The Learning Community event takes place every two months, and this time, the topic was “Artificial Intelligence and the Senior Minister.” Artificial intelligence has advanced to where AI programs are now adept at content […]
The Robots Are Coming
The world changed forever at the end of this past November. If you aren’t a very online person, you may not have any idea what I’m talking about. But if you do spend much time online, particularly on Twitter, you are aware of ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence. It is certainly not […]
What Ethics Do We Learn from Generative AI?
First off, what is generative artificial intelligence (GAI)? Artificial intelligence has been around for a while now. It’s your phone deciphering between your fingerprint and someone else’s. It’s the chatbot attempting to answer your online question, hopefully quicker than it takes to connect with a customer service agent. More recently, it’s your car’s dashboard beeping […]
Where Does Consciousness Come From? Reflecting on Emerging Technologies
Where does consciousness come from? A persistent fear many have is that emerging technologies will develop consciousness. Many wonder if what we create will eventually, sooner rather than later, gain self-awareness and become more powerful than we can control. So, what exactly is consciousness, and where does it come from? Any sudden leaps in technological […]
