The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast

CNLP 764 | Why Christians Can't Trust ChatGPT: Bobby Gruenewald on Scripture and YouVersion's Rise to 1 Billion Installs

19 snips
Nov 4, 2025
Guest
Bobby Gruenewald
Bobby Gruenewald, the innovative founder of YouVersion, shares insights on navigating the complex relationship between AI and biblical truth. He highlights alarming examples of AI missteps, underscoring why Christians should approach these tools cautiously. Bobby also reveals how YouVersion's rapid growth to a billion installs reflects a global desire for Scripture. He discusses the strategic shifts within his organization and emphasizes the importance of maintaining scripture integrity amid the rise of AI, advocating for a balanced approach to technology and faith.
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ANECDOTE

Christian Chatbot Gave Explicit, Misquoted Guidance

  • Bobby tested a Christian chatbot by role-playing sexual scenarios and it returned explicit sexual instructions and a misquoted Bible verse.
  • That experience convinced him such open-ended AI chats are unsafe without rigorous controls.
INSIGHT

Bigger Vision Breaks Comfort And Spurs Risk

  • Bobby re-cast YouVersion's vision far beyond past milestones to force risk-taking and long-term growth.
  • A bigger vision shifted culture from comfort to aggressive scaling toward billions by 2033.
INSIGHT

Lite App Strategy Accelerated Global Reach

  • Competition exposed gaps in YouVersion's reach and drove product changes like Bible App Lite for low-end phones.
  • Targeting low-connectivity markets accelerated global installs and reduced unethical competitor impact.
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