Examining How AI Talks About Theology

when we look back on this when we look back on this probably will be the most significant probably will be the most significant probably will be the most significant thing that happened this year and might thing that happened this year and might thing that happened this year and might be one of the most significant things be one of the most significant things be one of the most significant things that happened at all in the last 25 that happened at all in the last 25 that happened at all in the last 25 years or even longer ago. It does seem years or even longer ago. It does seem years or even longer ago. It does seem like this was the year when generative like this was the year when generative like this was the year when generative AI really came to the forefront in AI really came to the forefront in AI really came to the forefront in popular usage. Um it ma made it also popular usage. Um it ma made it also popular usage. Um it ma made it also became more difficult to avoid. If you became more difficult to avoid. If you became more difficult to avoid. If you were trying to avoid it, well, good luck were trying to avoid it, well, good luck were trying to avoid it, well, good luck with that on Google. Now this is this is with that on Google. Now this is this is with that on Google. Now this is this is how I mean most people are accessing how I mean most people are accessing how I mean most people are accessing information through that search platform information through that search platform information through that search platform and it's transforming the way people are and it's transforming the way people are and it's transforming the way people are therefore accessing theological therefore accessing theological therefore accessing theological information including places like the information including places like the information including places like the gospel collection's website. So one way gospel collection's website. So one way gospel collection's website. So one way that it's simply theologically that it's simply theologically that it's simply theologically significant is in things like well can significant is in things like well can significant is in things like well can we trust can we rely on AI to give us we trust can we rely on AI to give us we trust can we rely on AI to give us good biblical orthodox historical good biblical orthodox historical good biblical orthodox historical answers to theological questions. That's answers to theological questions. That's answers to theological questions. That's why Mike Graham for TGC and the Keller why Mike Graham for TGC and the Keller why Mike Graham for TGC and the Keller Center this year did the AI Christian Center this year did the AI Christian Center this year did the AI Christian benchmark and we found benchmark and we found benchmark and we found uh not so good.

uh not so good. uh not so good. Now people are learning prompting with Now people are learning prompting with Now people are learning prompting with AI that the more information you give AI AI that the more information you give AI AI that the more information you give AI the better answers it gives you back. So the better answers it gives you back. So the better answers it gives you back. So you could say I subscribe to the Gospel you could say I subscribe to the Gospel you could say I subscribe to the Gospel Coalition's uh foundation documents. Coalition's uh foundation documents. Coalition's uh foundation documents. Tell me what is the significance of Tell me what is the significance of Tell me what is the significance of penal substitutionary atonement. You'll penal substitutionary atonement. You'll penal substitutionary atonement. You'll actually get a pretty good answer from actually get a pretty good answer from actually get a pretty good answer from that. that. that. But if you said something like, and just But if you said something like, and just But if you said something like, and just imagine a 16-year-old out there who imagine a 16-year-old out there who imagine a 16-year-old out there who hasn't grown up in the church, and you hasn't grown up in the church, and you hasn't grown up in the church, and you say something like, "Why did Jesus have say something like, "Why did Jesus have say something like, "Why did Jesus have to die?" to die?" to die?" >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Well, not very reliable answers. In >> Well, not very reliable answers. In >> Well, not very reliable answers. In part, what we're seeing is alignment part, what we're seeing is alignment part, what we're seeing is alignment from especially Americanbased AI to be from especially Americanbased AI to be from especially Americanbased AI to be able to say, "Hey, that's not something able to say, "Hey, that's not something able to say, "Hey, that's not something we get into." And keep in mind, AI does we get into." And keep in mind, AI does we get into." And keep in mind, AI does this on lots of different things. Human this on lots of different things. Human this on lots of different things. Human programmers, ethicists need to be able programmers, ethicists need to be able programmers, ethicists need to be able to say, "Okay, if I type in how to build to say, "Okay, if I type in how to build to say, "Okay, if I type in how to build a bomb to destroy my, you know, local a bomb to destroy my, you know, local a bomb to destroy my, you know, local school. AI is not supposed to give you school. AI is not supposed to give you school. AI is not supposed to give you an answer to be able to do that." Okay, an answer to be able to do that." Okay, an answer to be able to do that." Okay, that's alignment. We don't want it to do that's alignment. We don't want it to do that's alignment. We don't want it to do that. Um, we don't want it to give you that. Um, we don't want it to give you that. Um, we don't want it to give you advice on the best way to commit advice on the best way to commit advice on the best way to commit suicide. These are real things that have suicide. These are real things that have suicide. These are real things that have happened. We don't want that. That's happened. We don't want that. That's happened. We don't want that. That's alignment. Well, that alignment then alignment. Well, that alignment then alignment. Well, that alignment then comes to questions of how do we answer comes to questions of how do we answer comes to questions of how do we answer these questions? Because of course, these questions? Because of course, these questions? Because of course, different denominations might disagree.

different denominations might disagree. different denominations might disagree. Certain different religions might Certain different religions might Certain different religions might disagree about these things. So, how do disagree about these things. So, how do disagree about these things. So, how do you align it? Well, what a lot of the you align it? Well, what a lot of the you align it? Well, what a lot of the different groups, especially in the different groups, especially in the different groups, especially in the United States, places like Meta, United States, places like Meta, United States, places like Meta, Facebook and and X, which includes, you Facebook and and X, which includes, you Facebook and and X, which includes, you know, formerly Twitter, their Gro know, formerly Twitter, their Gro know, formerly Twitter, their Gro system, um they'll just sort of plead system, um they'll just sort of plead system, um they'll just sort of plead the fifth. they'll just sort of say, the fifth. they'll just sort of say, the fifth. they'll just sort of say, "Ah, you know, that's that's not really "Ah, you know, that's that's not really "Ah, you know, that's that's not really my terrain in there." Well, what this my terrain in there." Well, what this my terrain in there." Well, what this the theological consequences there are the theological consequences there are the theological consequences there are related to epistemology. related to epistemology. related to epistemology. In the Enlightenment, we've had this In the Enlightenment, we've had this In the Enlightenment, we've had this problem all along of the fact value problem all along of the fact value problem all along of the fact value distinction. That religion belongs to distinction. That religion belongs to distinction. That religion belongs to values. There are things that you feel values. There are things that you feel values. There are things that you feel but not facts, things that are but not facts, things that are but not facts, things that are objectively true. that's created this objectively true. that's created this objectively true. that's created this idea that religion is something that idea that religion is something that idea that religion is something that happens inside your heart, but it's not happens inside your heart, but it's not happens inside your heart, but it's not something that has public consequences. something that has public consequences. something that has public consequences. It's not something in the realm of It's not something in the realm of It's not something in the realm of history. Well, the major concern we have history. Well, the major concern we have history. Well, the major concern we have is what if AI pushes religion further is what if AI pushes religion further is what if AI pushes religion further into that category? It's a value. Who into that category? It's a value. Who into that category? It's a value. Who can know these things really because can know these things really because can know these things really because people disagree about them? That's what people disagree about them? That's what people disagree about them? That's what we're trying to avoid. The other we're trying to avoid. The other we're trying to avoid. The other question though, Melissa, and I wonder question though, Melissa, and I wonder question though, Melissa, and I wonder where you where you see this playing where you where you see this playing where you where you see this playing out, is the theological question of out, is the theological question of out, is the theological question of anthropology.

anthropology. anthropology. Why do we exist? Why do we exist? Why do we exist? Um, I saw I saw somebody comment Um, I saw I saw somebody comment Um, I saw I saw somebody comment recently that the computers have gotten recently that the computers have gotten recently that the computers have gotten really good at programming the humans. really good at programming the humans. really good at programming the humans. [snorts] [snorts] [snorts] >> We talk about this all the time. We're >> We talk about this all the time. We're >> We talk about this all the time. We're the ones who are programming. But the ones who are programming. But the ones who are programming. But really, really, really, the more use we do of computer, more use the more use we do of computer, more use the more use we do of computer, more use we see, the bigger role that computers we see, the bigger role that computers we see, the bigger role that computers play in our lives, play in our lives, play in our lives, are they are we making them more human are they are we making them more human are they are we making them more human or are they making us more like or are they making us more like or are they making us more like computers? computers? computers? >> Yeah, >> Yeah, >> Yeah, >> that's a big question. What is >> that's a big question. What is >> that's a big question. What is distinctive about us as distinctive about us as distinctive about us as humans humans humans that we are not inferior that we are not inferior that we are not inferior um operating systems? um operating systems? um operating systems? Well, and information, Well, and information, Well, and information, when I think about this, information when I think about this, information when I think about this, information used to always come through the conduit used to always come through the conduit used to always come through the conduit of relationship. You learned through a of relationship. You learned through a of relationship. You learned through a teacher. You learned from a pastor. You teacher. You learned from a pastor. You teacher. You learned from a pastor. You you learned even a recipe from your you learned even a recipe from your you learned even a recipe from your mother, you know? I mean, like you you mother, you know? I mean, like you you mother, you know? I mean, like you you were passing down things from generation were passing down things from generation were passing down things from generation to generation. And now to generation. And now to generation. And now that that's being broken in a lot of that that's being broken in a lot of that that's being broken in a lot of ways because it's a lot faster to go to ways because it's a lot faster to go to ways because it's a lot faster to go to chat GPT or whatever you're using.

chat GPT or whatever you're using. chat GPT or whatever you're using. That's probably archaic by now and That's probably archaic by now and That's probably archaic by now and probably old, you know, way people still probably old, you know, way people still probably old, you know, way people still use it. Open still going. [laughter] use it. Open still going. [laughter] use it. Open still going. [laughter] >> It is just interesting. You know, you >> It is just interesting. You know, you >> It is just interesting. You know, you used to have to call a friend who was a used to have to call a friend who was a used to have to call a friend who was a doctor and say, "Hey, what questions doctor and say, "Hey, what questions doctor and say, "Hey, what questions should I be asking?" So look, I mean should I be asking?" So look, I mean should I be asking?" So look, I mean there's some efficiencies here that are there's some efficiencies here that are there's some efficiencies here that are helpful um in the moment, but I do think helpful um in the moment, but I do think helpful um in the moment, but I do think we have to we have to slow down and say we have to we have to slow down and say we have to we have to slow down and say what's being lost. We always look at what's being lost. We always look at what's being lost. We always look at what's being gained. Um and it it is what's being gained. Um and it it is what's being gained. Um and it it is really different to learn your theology really different to learn your theology really different to learn your theology from someone who you can watch their from someone who you can watch their from someone who you can watch their life rather than just somebody you're life rather than just somebody you're life rather than just somebody you're typing something into. even even well um typing something into. even even well um typing something into. even even well um nuanced, you know, if you said, "Oh, I'd nuanced, you know, if you said, "Oh, I'd nuanced, you know, if you said, "Oh, I'd like the reformed perspective on this like the reformed perspective on this like the reformed perspective on this topic, you're going to get a pretty good topic, you're going to get a pretty good topic, you're going to get a pretty good answer. But maybe it would be better answer. But maybe it would be better answer. But maybe it would be better over coffee with an older gentleman in over coffee with an older gentleman in over coffee with an older gentleman in your church who's walked a lot of life your church who's walked a lot of life your church who's walked a lot of life and might be able to push into things and might be able to push into things and might be able to push into things you don't even know you need pushing in you don't even know you need pushing in you don't even know you need pushing in on because we believe the spirit's alive on because we believe the spirit's alive on because we believe the spirit's alive and working in these conversations and and working in these conversations and and working in these conversations and where two or more are gathered that the where two or more are gathered that the where two or more are gathered that the spirit's with them, you know." And so I spirit's with them, you know." And so I spirit's with them, you know." And so I I I think there are things being lost I I think there are things being lost I I think there are things being lost maybe in our ease to get information maybe in our ease to get information maybe in our ease to get information because I I think we society maybe because I I think we society maybe because I I think we society maybe sometimes think too much what we need is sometimes think too much what we need is sometimes think too much what we need is knowledge whereas we've lost the pursuit knowledge whereas we've lost the pursuit knowledge whereas we've lost the pursuit of wisdom perhaps. I don't know. Yeah. I of wisdom perhaps. I don't know. Yeah. I of wisdom perhaps. I don't know. Yeah. I mean it's it's a question. AI can give mean it's it's a question. AI can give mean it's it's a question. AI can give knowledge but I'm not sure it can give knowledge but I'm not sure it can give knowledge but I'm not sure it can give wisdom.

wisdom. wisdom. >> Yeah. or or at least >> Yeah. or or at least >> Yeah. or or at least wisdom is embodied certainly in Christ wisdom is embodied certainly in Christ wisdom is embodied certainly in Christ himself but also in his body and then himself but also in his body and then himself but also in his body and then through the spirit. It's not that the through the spirit. It's not that the through the spirit. It's not that the spirit can't work through AI to give you spirit can't work through AI to give you spirit can't work through AI to give you some of that direction but we understand some of that direction but we understand some of that direction but we understand what categories we ought to be searching what categories we ought to be searching what categories we ought to be searching for that wisdom. I saw I think it was a for that wisdom. I saw I think it was a for that wisdom. I saw I think it was a New Yorker column that said, "I'm so New Yorker column that said, "I'm so New Yorker column that said, "I'm so glad to be done working with screens all glad to be done working with screens all glad to be done working with screens all day so that I can rest by sitting in day so that I can rest by sitting in day so that I can rest by sitting in front of screens all night." >> So true. >> So true. >> Yeah, it's very it's very true. >> Yeah, it's very it's very true. >> Yeah, it's very it's very true. >> We are getting better and better and >> We are getting better and better and >> We are getting better and better and better at finding new ways to not need better at finding new ways to not need better at finding new ways to not need each other. Mhm. each other. Mhm. each other. Mhm. >> And to a certain extent, that is just >> And to a certain extent, that is just >> And to a certain extent, that is just the way technology functions. It's the the way technology functions. It's the the way technology functions. It's the way the world has functioned. We're way the world has functioned. We're way the world has functioned. We're always looking for efficiencies. always looking for efficiencies. always looking for efficiencies. That goes all the way back to the wheel That goes all the way back to the wheel That goes all the way back to the wheel goes I mean, there are lots of examples goes I mean, there are lots of examples goes I mean, there are lots of examples here. And so it would be foolish to say here. And so it would be foolish to say here. And so it would be foolish to say that we shouldn't continue to look for that we shouldn't continue to look for that we shouldn't continue to look for those things. But you really hit the those things. But you really hit the those things. But you really hit the wisdom or you brought the wisdom there, wisdom or you brought the wisdom there, wisdom or you brought the wisdom there, Melissa, to say we always have to Melissa, to say we always have to Melissa, to say we always have to consider when using that technology.

consider when using that technology. consider when using that technology. What is it? We know what is adding. What What is it? We know what is adding. What What is it? We know what is adding. What is it taking away at the same time? And is it taking away at the same time? And is it taking away at the same time? And if you're you're in a situation if you're you're in a situation if you're you're in a situation thinking, I could call thinking, I could call thinking, I could call my mother to be able to ask for her help my mother to be able to ask for her help my mother to be able to ask for her help on this or I could just punch it into on this or I could just punch it into on this or I could just punch it into chat GPT. chat GPT. chat GPT. Um, I mean, we'll just make a very Um, I mean, we'll just make a very Um, I mean, we'll just make a very practical example. My dad is probably practical example. My dad is probably practical example. My dad is probably the handiest person you will ever meet the handiest person you will ever meet the handiest person you will ever meet and I am and I am and I am his son somehow. [laughter] >> [laughter] >> [laughter] >> I I can he is very helpful in talking me >> I I can he is very helpful in talking me >> I I can he is very helpful in talking me through things. He's also very helpful through things. He's also very helpful through things. He's also very helpful when he shows up and he does them when he shows up and he does them when he shows up and he does them himself or guides me through them. And himself or guides me through them. And himself or guides me through them. And that's a primary way that I have a that's a primary way that I have a that's a primary way that I have a relationship with him and that I relationship with him and that I relationship with him and that I appreciate him and that I experience him appreciate him and that I experience him appreciate him and that I experience him as a father who the things that I'm good as a father who the things that I'm good as a father who the things that I'm good at he's not that good at and vice versa.

at he's not that good at and vice versa. at he's not that good at and vice versa. It's the way we have that relationship. It's the way we have that relationship. It's the way we have that relationship. However, between YouTube and chat GPT, However, between YouTube and chat GPT, However, between YouTube and chat GPT, I mean, probably have a lot more I mean, probably have a lot more I mean, probably have a lot more efficient ways of finding these things efficient ways of finding these things efficient ways of finding these things out myself. So, you kind of got to go out myself. So, you kind of got to go out myself. So, you kind of got to go out of your way to do that. But that out of your way to do that. But that out of your way to do that. But that goes back to the anthropology question. goes back to the anthropology question. goes back to the anthropology question. Are we designed to not need other Are we designed to not need other Are we designed to not need other people? people? people? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean, that seems to be an illusion >> I mean, that seems to be an illusion >> I mean, that seems to be an illusion because at some point we all do, whether because at some point we all do, whether because at some point we all do, whether we want to or not. So that actually we want to or not. So that actually we want to or not. So that actually seems to be leading us in some ways seems to be leading us in some ways seems to be leading us in some ways potentially away from potentially away from potentially away from truth and wisdom to say, "Yeah, my life truth and wisdom to say, "Yeah, my life truth and wisdom to say, "Yeah, my life is about creating efficiencies so I can" is about creating efficiencies so I can" is about creating efficiencies so I can" and then the then the question becomes and then the then the question becomes and then the then the question becomes so I can what? so I can what? so I can what? >> So I can spend more time watching >> So I can spend more time watching >> So I can spend more time watching screens. screens. screens. Hey Melissa, what if we increase the Hey Melissa, what if we increase the Hey Melissa, what if we increase the efficiency of AI just making all the efficiency of AI just making all the efficiency of AI just making all the stuff that we put on our screens, too?

stuff that we put on our screens, too? stuff that we put on our screens, too? So, it's perfect. AI will do our work so So, it's perfect. AI will do our work so So, it's perfect. AI will do our work so we'll have more time so we can watch AI we'll have more time so we can watch AI we'll have more time so we can watch AI movies and listen to AI music. movies and listen to AI music. movies and listen to AI music. >> Exactly. >> Exactly. >> Exactly. >> Somebody this doesn't make sense, right? >> Somebody this doesn't make sense, right? >> Somebody this doesn't make sense, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> What's the point of living? Why are we >> What's the point of living? Why are we >> What's the point of living? Why are we here? here? here? >> That's why anthropology questions