Theological thinking and AI
I attended an excellent ministry conference this week in Coolangatta, which was an inspiring and transformative experience. Attendees shared insights and strategies for effective ministry, leaving us motivated and equipped to serve our communities better. The picturesque location of Coolangatta added to the overall atmosphere, providing a serene backdrop for reflection and fellowship. Networking opportunities were abundant, allowing for meaningful connections and collaborations. This conference truly rejuvenated my faith and passion for ministry work.
Now, if you hadn’t realised already, that entire first paragraph was written by the AI tool ChatGPT. I asked it to give me an exciting 100 word summary of a ministry conference I attended this week and there it is.
If you’re wondering what this is all about, AI stands for Artificial Intelligence which is an evolving form of technology that tries to simulate human intelligence in producing content and information. Yes, it is the stuff of movies but it’s actually happening, now, on your mobile phone. It can produce essays, pictures, stories, movies, even this newsletter article! ChatGPT is just one of hundreds of AI tools that anyone, anywhere in the world, can use to help them produce just about anything.
At the conference we discussed the merits and benefits of using AI in ministry and some of the dangers and pitfalls. To many of you this sort of conversation is common I am sure - many universities and businesses have AI policies about what can and cannot be produced by and put into AI. For others, this is a brave new world that probably sounds slightly exciting and slightly terrifying.
If you’re a parent and you're not thinking in this space yet, it is well worth starting to get your head around it - your kids have probably been using it for 18 months! At the conference, someone said he asked his child to write a 100-word apology for something he had done and to come and read it out when he was ready. The child reappeared less than a minute later with a forthright and detailed apology which he read out with passion. When his dad commented on the sincerity of it, the child replied that it was written by ChatGPT. I am not sure that worked out as it was meant to for a moment of discipline.
I am also aware that there is a big discussion at the moment about explicit content and AI - yes it’s another space where depravity can thrive, and parents will need to be talking to their kids about it. Inappropriate pictures abound on the internet and AI can produce them of you in disturbing quantity and quality and speed.
All this is just to say, don’t stick your head in the sand on AI. Rather, start to think about it but even more importantly, start to think theologically about it. Everything in the world has theological connections because God made the world so nothing is outside the remit of good theological thinking and if we are not doing it, we may be walking blind into disaster.
We had a fascinating conversation that focussed on the importance of embodied relationships and the way our words reveal the truth of who we are. We thought briefly about the implications of allowing AI to represent us and whether we can actually become a different version of ourselves, enabling people to engage with someone who we are not through AI. We started to dabble in the way the incarnation has much to say in this space. Is it OK for AI to write your sermon? Your bible study? Your parish council report? Your letter to staff? To produce pictures for your sermon slides?
It’s all so fascinating; but it is also a clear demonstration of the way we must always be thinking theologically about the world around us. Were we to pause and ponder AI together, I think we would find that the Bible has heaps to say about it and our use of it. Where does your mind go about what God has to say about this emerging technology?
Well, I look forward to seeing you at church this Sunday for inspiring worship, an uplifting message, all in our supportive community. Experience spiritual growth, connection, love and hope. Everyone is welcome—bring your friends and family!
And I will leave you to work out whether that last paragraph was written by me or ChatGPT.
