AI and the Church
AI and the Church
The Office of Innovation, in collaboration with partners from various denominations, is committed to helping churches navigate the transformative landscape of Generative Artificial Intelligence. Our work prioritizes Christian ethics, along with critical issues of justice, access, and equity in the use of AI tools. To advance these goals, we are convening a diverse group of practitioners, theologians, and innovators across denominations to explore fundamental questions about AI and to build a long-term learning community over the next three years.
The AI & the Church Summit, held Aug. 12–15, 2024, in Seattle at Epiphany Episcopal Parish, marked a significant step in this journey. The summit featured a keynote address by Father Paolo Benanti, a leading expert in technology and ethics at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Father Benanti, an adviser to the Pope on AI and principal author of the “Rome Call for AI Ethics,” also consults with major technology companies, including Microsoft, Cisco, Apple, Google, and Meta. Bob Johansen from the Institute for the Future shared insights from his latest work, published in the AI & the Church Journal.
5 Key Outcomes Emerged from AI & the Church Summit
- Future Gathering: We will convene another gathering to continue our important work.
- Theology Group: We are forming a theology group to explore and articulate how our denominations perceive God's presence in our initiatives.
- AI for Good Group: An “AI for Good” group is being established to advocate for Just AI on behalf of our denominations. This group will also include a speaker’s bureau for media inquiries on faith and AI. Microsoft has already agreed to collaborate with us on this endeavor.
- Ecumenical Cohorts: The ecumenical cohorts we created will aim to translate the ideas discussed into practical actions.
- Denominational Projects: Specific projects will be developed to assist each partner in advancing the work of the church.