In an age of Artificial Intelligence, the local church can become a beacon of stability and hope, demonstrating what it means to love God and neighbor with heart, soul, mind, and strength.

The work of biblical scholarship, interpretation, teaching, and learning is the work of the body of Christ, and cannot be responsibly performed by a machine.

I am convinced the future of friendship is human. Better a friend that tells you the truth than the fake praise of a line of code.

Computer scientist Charlie Catlett comments on the cascade of new technologies coming to our mobile devices. “Those who will implement the best applications of AI are now probably in high school”.

As technologically simulated relationships become ever more realistic and superficially convincing, we must be aware of the risk that the simulacrum will exert a seductive appeal to our hearts.

Should we teach our children to be polite to Alexa, to say please and thank you, to respect its ‘virtual’ feelings? Or is it of no significance if children abuse, tease and bully a simulated slave-person?

Will the promotion of ‘relationships’ with machines contribute to societal wellbeing and human flourishing, or provide new opportunities for manipulation and deception of the vulnerable?