Theology of AI
Exploring the intersection of faith, technology, and the human spirit.
September 21, 2026
Augmented Intelligence: The New Reality
We've entered a new technological era. By now, most people in the developed world have heard of Artificial Intelligence (AI). We've heard about its remarkable benefits, its legitimate risks, and its potential to reshape the course of human history. But perhaps we've labeled it incorrectly.
For years, we've used the phrase, "Artificial Intelligence." The phrase has become so familiar that we rarely stop to consider what it implies. The word "artificial" carries a negative suggestion of something less than natural. Equally important is the fact that Artificial Intelligence puts the machine at the center of the conversation. But what if humans were at the center instead?
What if AI isn't primarily about creating artificial minds and digital masters? What if its greatest potential is not replacing human intelligence at all, but, rather, augmenting it? That would lead us to a very different conversation. In this view, AI would mean Augmented Intelligence. This distinction isn't merely semantic. It represents a fundamentally different philosophy of technology.
Artificial Intelligence asks, "What can machines do better?" Augmented Intelligence asks, "What can humans do better by working in tandem with intelligent machines?" The first question is limiting in its vision, whereas the second question has enormous potential.
Throughout human history, our greatest technological advances have rarely been about simply replacing human capability. They have been about extending it. The telescope extended our vision. The microscope extended our ability to observe exceedingly small phenomena. The printing press extended our ability to communicate. The computer extended our ability to calculate. The internet extended our access to information. And now intelligent technology is extending our ability to reason, create, analyze, learn, communicate, and solve incredibly complex and vexing problems.
Augmentation is not replacement. This is the distinction we should never lose. Whereas machines can process information, humans determine what matters. Whereas machines can identify patterns, humans apply wisdom. Machines can generate possibilities. Humans decide which possibilities are worth pursuing. Machines can calculate consequences. Humans accept responsibility for our very human decisions.
The future doesn't have to be humans versus machines. It can be humans with machines. Not intelligence that replaces us, but intelligence that extends us. Not technology that diminishes human potential, but technology that amplifies it. Perhaps we should stop asking whether artificial intelligence will replace human intelligence. Perhaps we should start asking what happens when human intelligence is augmented by it. Same two letters. A radically different vision. AI = Augmented Intelligence. Arriving now at a future near you.
Dr. Philip William Calvert © 2026
2023
AI and the Nuances of Interpersonal Confrontation: Saving Us From Ourselves
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a groundbreaking tool that holds immense potential to fundamentally alter, change, and reorient various aspects of our lives. This brief essay deals with just one small way that AI could potentially be leveraged to help save us from ourselves.
If each person had a digital AI-driven agent, perhaps it would help us avoid blunders in the way we communicate with each other by picking up on the nuances of our social interactions and, in the most extreme cases, help us avoid more disastrous interpersonal conflict.
A biblical example of this phenomenon is when Abigail, the wife of Nabal, went to speak some sense into David, who was, at that very moment, preparing to slaughter Nabal and all who were associated with him. Sensing imminent danger, Abigail loaded food as a gift and rushed to meet David before he could make the absolutely terrible mistake of murdering Nabal in cold blood. Read 1 Samuel 25:2-31.
Natural Language Processing (NLP) plays a pivotal role in comprehending social interactions. NLP algorithms can analyze language patterns, sentiment, and context, allowing us to understand the underlying emotions and intentions behind social communications. This capability aids in deciphering sarcasm, irony, and complex forms of figurative language, which are crucial elements in understanding human interactions.
David recognized the significance of what Abigail was saying. She personally helped David avoid the unrighteous murder of Nabal and his family. This event was a pivotal moment in David's life. In sum, Artificial Intelligence is a transformative force that can help us identify and navigate the intricacies of our social interactions. After all, you cannot spell Abigail without "ai." Dr. Philip William Calvert © 2023
2023
It's not the Machines! Part I
If it's true, and it most certainly is, that cars don't kill, guns don't kill, and bombs don't kill, it's people that kill, then perhaps our reactions to the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which are to ignore it, oppose it, embrace it, or control it, are missing the mark in a fundamental way. Maybe the answer to the threat and promise of the ubiquitous presence of AI is hiding in plain sight.
On a popular AI platform I entered the following verbatim instruction: "Write a powerful 100 word obituary of a man named Dr. Philip William Calvert who was a great friend of AI." I then entered the same request, but identified myself as a great enemy of AI. Notice how charitable AI was in the second response despite my use of the words, "great enemy of AI." I am confident that AI was far more generous than a human would have been.
I present the above to show in some small but not insignificant way that when it comes to the problems with AI, it's not the machines! If this premise is the case, what is the path forward for humanity as we integrate AI into every aspect of our lives? I'll address the solution in Part II.
2023
Crafting a Beneficial Relationship between AI and the Church
In today's rapidly advancing technological landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has left no human domain untouched, and religious institutions are no exception. As AI continues to shape our world, exploring its relationship with the church becomes increasingly intriguing and relevant.
Churches can leverage AI to enhance and improve certain administrative tasks and critically important congregational engagement. AI-powered virtual assistants can provide 24/7 support to congregants, offering practical guidance and answering common organizational questions. Such applications allow clergy to focus on spiritual guidance, personal interactions, and building a deeper and more sustainable sense of togetherness.
However, the integration of AI raises important ethical questions. The church must grapple with issues surrounding personal privacy, inevitable algorithmic bias, and the potential for replacing human interactions with automated systems. Striking the right balance between AI's capabilities and preserving the authenticity of human connections is crucial.
Importantly, nothing stated above implies that AI should be writing sermons or giving spiritual guidance. While fact checking information and verifying sources is as legitimate a task for AI as it is for a good Bible commentary, the weighty calling of ministerial staff is the biblical basis for Spirit-led message preparation and presentation and pastoral care. AI is a practical tool but must not become a substitute for authentic relationships or become a theological crutch. ~Dr. Philip W. Calvert
2023
The Digital Peanut Gallery
Traditionally the peanut gallery in theater was the top gallery where the cheaper seats were located. The term can also refer to a group of people who take it upon themselves to, quite often, mercilessly criticize others, often by zeroing in on otherwise insignificant details.
IBM and the All England Lawn Tennis Club will be debuting new tools and features powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Wimbledon fans. The suite of digital content will include generative AI commentary and analysis. It's a logical step in the implementation of AI across every industry and facet of the global economy.
The purpose of this brief posting is to simply set before us the reality that if we can get quality Wimbledon commentary generated by AI, the same technology can be an equally entertaining, albeit destructive, digital peanut gallery that generates biting and inane criticisms of otherwise unimportant details about a person, group, work of art, and even ideas themselves. And, AI can produce such content 100,000 times faster than a human being.
Striking the right balance between AI assistance and respecting individuality will be crucial in preventing the digital peanut gallery from overwhelming our right, and even our desire, to make informed decisions for ourselves. ~Dr. Philip W. Calvert
2023
Toward a Theology of Artificial Intelligence
As humanity forges ahead into the uncharted territory of the digital age, a remarkable phenomenon is emerging: The rise of artificial intelligence (AI). In this era of accelerating technological advancements, it is absolutely critical to develop a theology of AI that calls people to not lose sight of God in the midst of the rise of the potential of self-deification.
A theology of artificial intelligence can help us navigate this complex terrain, bringing together the realms of science, ethics, and authentic biblical spirituality. In other words, as powerful as AI is and will become, the Holy Spirit is far greater and infinitely more impactful than any machine, whether intelligent or not.
AI possesses the ability to perceive, learn, and act upon information, mirroring human cognitive capacities. Its rapid development compels us to consider the moral implications surrounding AI's decision-making and its effect on humanity. A theological framework can foster ethical guidelines for the development and use of AI, ensuring its alignment with human values such as compassion, dignity, justice, and the importance of human life itself -- which is created in the very image of God.
AI may be powerful, but only God is eternal. AI models, in their quest for knowledge, understanding, and self-replication, beckon us to reflect on our own human nature and the potential that lies within us. But, that potential is naturally limited without the spiritual...without an understanding of the soul and its deepest longing for the most profound of all our relationships. That is, the relationship between your soul and the Savior...between you and Jesus Christ.
In sum, in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, developing a theology that acknowledges the impact of this technology is essential. AI is a tool, but Jesus is the answer...so let's provide that answer! ~Dr. Philip W. Calvert