A Theological Framework for Reflection on Artificial Intelligence

The theological questions before us in a digital age are pressing. What does God think of AI? Is AI good or evil? Will AI save us? What sort of future will AI give us? In what follows, I want to briefly introduce a few theological concepts that will hopefully help equip us for theological reflection on AI. We will begin with the question of epistemology, or how it is that we come by knowledge; in the realm of theology, this centers on revelation. We will then touch on the doctrine of creation, including the understanding of what it means to be a human creature. Next, we will review aspects of the doctrine of salvation. Finally, we will discuss eschatology, the study of “last things.” I will close by posing some thoughts on what and how theology fits within our evolving digital wisdom