Last month, I mentioned some positive aspects of artificial intelligence and concluded with a fearful caution that AI may favor hard science over the mysteries of faith. My thinking was that because AI is a machine, it may not have a choice. I received some strong opposition to this. One reader in particular, who is a brilliant computer specialist and a good friend, suggested that my fears were not well-founded. Rather, he said, any prejudice would be found not in AI but in its liberal-minded programmers. 

I asked my friend, who prefers to be known as JP, if I could include his retort in this month’s column. He said yes. As you will see, he is not only an expert in computer technology but also a faith-filled Catholic and genuine evangelizer. What follows is the core of his disagreement along with superior examples of why AI itself is not to blame. It runs programs. Those who are writing the code are the people who must be held to a higher standard, a standard of truth, because they are responsible for whichever direction, science or faith, AI might favor. I am grateful to JP for this excellent clarification and for taking the time to add his own Holy Homework to the mix. Thank you, my good friend. 

JP: “I have to disagree that AI will inherently favor science over religion. AI can absolutely honor both rigorous thinking and genuine faith, depending on how it’s programmed. The problem isn’t that AI ‘naturally’ leans materialist. It’s that much of Silicon Valley currently does, and that worldview can get baked into the systems it creates. Yet AI itself isn’t a threat to faith if we develop and use it the right way. 

“Here’s the crucial thing: AI can assist with many endeavors, but none of them generates faith itself. AI can certainly help with removing obstacles to encountering God’s truth and extending the reach of the gospel. It can help us understand Scripture more deeply. It can assist clergy with preaching and crafting homilies. It can make theological resources available to people who would otherwise never access them. But the transformative power, the power that actually produces faith, hope, and love, can only come from the Holy Spirit. 

“So how do we live faithfully as Catholics in an age of artificial intelligence? 

1. Use AI as a tool, not a master

“Employ AI to serve your purposes and God’s kingdom. Use it to free yourself from drudgery so you have more capacity for prayer, relationships, and service. But never let an algorithm make decisions that belong to you: decisions about your faith, your relationships, your moral convictions. You are responsible before God for your choices. 

  2. Remember that humans bear God’s image; machines do not

“When you interact with AI, remember: it is not a person. It has no soul. It has no stake in your flourishing. A machine can simulate care, but only another image-bearer of God can actually love you. 

  3. Develop discernment through prayer and Scripture

“As technology becomes more sophisticated, we face real choices about how to engage it. Should you use this tool? Is this particular application ethical? What are the downstream consequences? These are not primarily technical questions; they are spiritual ones. Prayer is not a backup plan when technology fails; it’s our main source of guidance. Read Scripture. Pray. Seek wisdom from above. 

“Christ’s kingdom is not threatened by silicon chips or algorithms. His purposes will be accomplished. His love cannot be replaced by any machine, no matter how sophisticated. Let us use AI wisely. Free yourself from unnecessary drudgery so you have more energy for prayer, relationships, and love. 

Holy Homework: Seek wisdom first. Ask God for it, and it will be given to you. And when it is, you’ll find that you can engage every tool, including artificial intelligence, with both eyes wide open and a heart at peace. 

God bless! 

JP 

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