AI Goes to Church
In AI Goes to Church, Todd Korpi presents pastoral wisdom for artificial intelligence. This is a thought-provoking book that pushes the conversation of how Christians live in a world with AI.
Foundational Principles
Interestingly, Korpi categorizes AI with the same sort of designation we use for plant and animal life, recognizing that those who are created in the image of God are responsible to steward our resources appropriately and carefully.
Korpi offers several foundational principles that should shape our theological ethics of AI and of a world in which humans coexist with AI: (1) the image of God, (2) the goodness of creation, (3) the mission of God, (4) inaugurated eschatological hope, (5) power and the kingdom, and (6) human connection and culture care.
Mission and Work
I was most interested to see how Korpi relates AI to the mission of the church, especially in how it pertains to translation and accessibility, content personalization, AI frontline contact, predictive engagement, and forming people for mission.
I was particularly intrigued by the idea of how AI can counteract human toil. Korpi challenges the local church to navigate a shift away from the current commitment to toil and bondage to mechanical time, and instead to leverage the benefits of technology for the purpose of human flourishing.
Thinking Carefully as a Christian
Korpi takes AI into the realm of pastoral care. While I am much slower to embrace Korpi’s conclusions regarding the use of AI in basic counseling roles, I appreciate his desire to alleviate some of the routine functions of a pastor’s week.
I don’t agree with everything Korpi presents in this book. However, I see the value in thoughtfully engaging with these issues, and I can understand where he is coming from. Reading this book brought to my attention topics I had not previously considered, and it has given me the opportunity to reflect on them carefully and thoroughly as a Christian.
I received a media copy of AI Goes to Church (Amazon) and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.