AI, Agency, and Faith: A Reflection on Recent Articles
The first part of a not so regularly series on AI
One of the topics that fascinates me is artificial intelligence (AI). I actually use AI for many tasks, from generating creative ideas to streamlining workflows. In case you're wondering, AI had no creative role in writing this post (though I did use it for the voiceover just for fun)! Instead, I want to reflect on how a few recent articles have shaped my understanding of AI and its potential impact on believers.
The Articles
AI as a Decision-Maker. Recently, a Seattle woman put AI in charge of many of her decisions for a week. From groceries to paint colors to wardrobe, she let AI make selections. She said that she was impressed with its speed, but that it had not really “wowed” her.
Who’s Really In Charge? Another article from The Hill opined about who was really in charge of the AI systems that so many people use. The premise is that people think they are in charge of AI, but they actually let AI dictate decisions and consume their data. The writer, Thomas Vartanian, seems to wish for more regulation of AI.
Low-Stakes vs. High-Stakes Decisions. A few weeks ago, Joe McKendrick wrote about the difference between low-stakes and high-stakes decisions by AI for Forbes. The idea is that humans need to provide oversight to anything other than the most low-stakes decision making. For those low-stakes tasks, full automation might work.
The Future of Human Agency. In a more philosophical article, Janna Anderson and Lee Rainie wonder about the Future of Human Agency. I’ll quote the words from the story that come from Barry Chudakov:
“By 2035, the relationship between humans and machines, bots and systems powered mostly by autonomous and artificial intelligence will look like an argument with one side shouting and the other side smiling smugly. The relationship is effectively a struggle between the determined fantasy of humans to resist (‘I’m independent and in charge and no, I won’t give up my agency!’) and the seductive power of technology designed to undermine that fantasy (‘I’m fast, convenient, entertaining! Pay attention to me!’)”
Synthesis of the Ideas
These articles raise a common question: To what degree should we allow AI to make decisions for humanity? Naturally, as a believer, I approach this question from a biblical perspective.
In Scripture, human agency—the ability to make choices—is a defining characteristic of being made in God's image. From Adam and Eve to David and Bathsheba, and even Ananias and Sapphira, we see that agency can lead to both good and evil. Yet, our ability to choose is part of what makes us human.
Yielding our decisions to God (a key aspect of Lordship) doesn’t strip us of agency; it transforms it into an act of worship. However, yielding decision-making to AI could be seen as worshiping a human-made tool. Biblically, worshiping anything human-made amounts to idolatry. That’s a sobering thought.
So, it seems clear that allowing AI to make high-stakes decisions is inappropriate for believers. Low-stakes decisions, however, might be acceptable. For example, I use automation at home for convenience: exterior lights turn on at dusk and off at dawn, and my thermostat adjusts based on temperature. These are low-stakes scenarios where mistakes (like when a neighbor’s dog chewed through my fiber line) result in inconvenience, not significant harm.
Balancing Technology and Faith
Neil Postman’s ideas about technology feel relevant here. He argued that tools shape us as much as we shape them. Before AI, I might spend an hour outlining and editing an article. Now, AI can reduce that to seconds. While this saves time, it comes at a cost: my data enriches the AI system. Instead of spending the saved time with God or others, I often fill it with more AI-driven tasks.
Conclusions
This might sound like I’m against AI, but I’m not. I appreciate its capabilities in specific, low-stakes contexts:
Synthesizing information: AI can create podcast episodes summarizing journal articles for me to listen to while commuting.
Interacting with research: Tools like NotebookLM let me upload articles and engage with the material quickly.
Enhancing productivity: I use AI to supplement lecture outlines or refine ideas faster than I can type.
That said, I approach high-stakes decisions differently. As a believer, entrusting those decisions to AI would undermine my trust in the Lord.
What are your thoughts? How do you think believers should navigate the relationship between AI, agency, and faith?