AI Missional Tech Trends
Executive Summary
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is primarily a tool for specific, data-driven tasks, far from the human-like intelligence often depicted in popular culture. AI systems excel at pattern recognition and decision-making based on statistical analysis, focusing on narrow tasks. Today, AI is already embedded in much of everyday life, influencing everything from online searches to healthcare, voice assistants, and predictive analytics.
Looking ahead, AI’s potential includes advancements toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), though its arrival is speculative. AI will continue to transform industries, automating tasks in the workforce and driving innovations in fields like healthcare. However, AI also raises ethical concerns around bias, privacy, and accountability, among others, as its data-driven decisions can perpetuate existing societal inequalities.
AI’s energy consumption and environmental impact are also important considerations. Christian developers should prioritize stewardship and transparency, ensuring that AI systems serve the greater good, supporting God’s purposes for humanity rather than distorting them.
For Christian ministries, AI offers new opportunities, such as evangelism chatbots, Bible engagement tools, and decision-making systems for ministry strategies. Yet, ministries must approach AI with caution, ensuring it supplements human efforts rather than replacing them. Ethical use of AI should align with biblical principles, respecting human dignity and fostering justice, love, and human flourishing.
In This Report
- Understanding AI
- Defining: What is this technology?
- Current: How are people already encountering this technology?
- Future: Where is it going?
- Risks: What risks might this technology present for ministries?
- Ethics: What biblical or theological points of reference do Christians have for this tech?
- Resources: What are some additional resources and recommended reading?
- Building AI for Ministry
- Principles: When developing AI for ministry use, what should builders consider related to theology and ethics?
- Discern: What AI systems might be useful to ministries that developers could build?
- Develop: What qualities of a tool make it more useful to ministries?
- Implement: How can builders measure the impact and effectiveness of AI tools in ministry contexts?
- Applying AI to Ministry
- Problems: What problems might ministries solve with this technology?
- Opportunities: What opportunities might ministries have with this technology?
- Needs: What infrastructure is needed to leverage this technology?
- Challenges: What hurdles might ministries face in innovating with this new technology?
- Effect: How might this technology affect people’s faith?
- Uses: What are case studies where this tech is being used?
- Getting Started: How can we get started with this technology?