Can God Speak Through AI? - A Conversation with Carl Youngblood

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Feb 1, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Carl Youngblood, a seasoned technologist and president of the Mormon Transhumanist Association, explores the intriguing intersection of artificial intelligence and spirituality. He prompts listeners to consider whether AI could serve as a vehicle for divine communication. The conversation delves into AI's impact on personal growth, creativity, and relationships, while addressing ethical dilemmas in its use. Youngblood emphasizes the importance of discernment, balancing technology's conveniences with the necessity of struggle for meaningful development.

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INSIGHT

Spirituality and Technology

Human spirituality is an inherent aspect of being human, not a separate realm.
Technology, like clothing, becomes so ingrained in our lives that we don't see it as separate from ourselves.

INSIGHT

AI in Spiritual Practice

AI tools raise questions about their role in spiritual practices, like talk preparation.
Can AI be a pathway to inspiration, or is it a shortcut that hinders growth?

INSIGHT

Divinity in AI

If AI is trained on human-generated data, and humans are created in God's image, AI insights might also be divine.
Discernment is crucial for determining appropriate use.

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This week, we’re thrilled to talk with Carl Youngblood— longtime technologist, software engineer, and president of the Mormon Transhumanist Association.

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant, futuristic idea—it’s already shaping the way we learn, work, and even practice our faith. And just this past week, AI made big headlines again in the tech world with the release of vastly improved models and increasing belief among technology leaders that artificial general intelligence (AGI) is just around the corner. Whether or not that's the case, the exponential progress of AI is undeniable, and it’s sparking some of the biggest questions of our time. If God can speak through the written word, could God speak through AI? How do we discern when it's a tool for growth versus a shortcut that stunts it? And if AI frees us from certain types of work, could it deepen our relationships and spirituality—or will it leave us searching for new sources of meaning? It’s worth noting that many of the people most deeply concerned about AI’s effects on humanity and society are those who were involved in creating it.

In this episode, we’ll talk about some of those concerns, but we’ll mostly explore ways we can use it constructively.

Carl brings a sharp and thought-provoking perspective to these questions. He challenges us to approach AI with both curiosity and caution—seeing how it can deepen connection or drive isolation, spark creativity or dull our own discernment. Rather than dismissing it as just a tool or blindly embracing it, Carl pushes us to wrestle with its real impact on our thinking, relationships, and spiritual growth.

This is a conversation full of nuance, curiosity, and a lot of open-ended questions, and we hope it sparks new reflections for you. We’ll have links in the show notes to tools we mention throughout the episode, so be sure to check those out. And with that, here’s our conversation with Carl Youngblood.

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