AI and spiritual companionship

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss the use of AI within the Church, and when and how it might be used. There's no question that AI has become ubiquitous in our world. And while it might not bother you to know that your grocery store, for example, uses AI to generate suggestions to improve your shopping experience, how would you feel knowing that your pastor used AI to write this weekend's message?

Episode Links

Alexis mentioned a study conducted by Barna last year about pastors and their use of AI, which found that 12% said they felt comfortable using AI to write their sermons. You can read more details in an article about the findings on NPR HERE. Dr. White does not share that level of comfort. In fact, he wrote a blog earlier this year titled “Why I Won't Use AI for Writing,” outlining his reason for making this decision. You can read that blog in its entirety HERE. And if you're interested in viewing the scene from Walk the Line that Dr. White talked about related to that blog entry, you can watch that on YouTube HERE.

AI is entering the Church in places other than pastors' sermons. Dr. White wrote another blog simply titled “AI Jesus” about a Catholic chapel in Switzerland where an avatar of “Jesus” was tucked into a confessional booth and parishioners could come and confess their sins and ask it questions. You can read that blog HERE.

There are a number of articles that provided information linked to today's episode or that were mentioned during the conversation. Should you wish to read more about the ways that AI is impacting our culture and the life of the Church, you can find those below:

Lila Shroff, “ChatGPT Gave Instructions for Murder, Self-Mutilation, and Devil Worship,” The Atlantic.

Jocelyn Gecker, “Teens say they are turning to AI for friendship,” AP News.

Deena Prichep, “Are AI sermons ethical? Clergy consider where to draw the line.” Religion News Service.

James Titcomb, “Musk launches AI girlfriend available to 12-year-olds,” The Telegraph.

Steven Lee Myers & Stuart A. Thompson, “Right-Wing Chatbots Turbocharge America's Political and Cultural Wars,” The New York Times.

Emma Roth, “Sam Altman says ChatGPT will soon sext with verified adults,” The Verge.

Rebecca Bellan, “California becomes first state to regulate AI companion chatbots,” TechCrunch.

Lee V. Gaines, “1 in 5 high schoolers has had a romantic AI relationship, or knows someone who has,” NPR.

Chloe Veltman, “AI's getting better at faking crowds. Here's why that's cause for concern,” NPR.

Howard Blume & Jocelyn Gecker, “What counts as cheating with AI? Teachers are grappling with how to draw the line,” Los Angeles Times.

Brian Kennedy et al., “How Americans View AI and Its Impact on People and Society,” Pew Research Center.

Lauren Jackson, “Finding God in the App Store,” The New York Times.

Finally, Dr. White discussed how parents need to be so aware of how and when their kids are using technology and AI. The Meck Institute at Mecklenburg Community Church has an on-demand class called “FaceTime: What Parents Need to Know About Technology, Social Media, Video Games and More,” which you can find HERE.

For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we'd love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday. We'd also love to hear from you if there is a topic that you'd like to see discussed on the Church & Culture Podcast in an upcoming episode. You can find the form to submit your questions at the bottom of the podcast page HERE.