If interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be measured by decibels, it would probably be the loudest noise –– or voice –– in the room.[1] Such is its growing presence and importance in society; AI has captured attention throughout technology, media, leisure and workplaces.[2] So, too, has the conversation about its uses and abuses spilled over into faith-based contexts at academic, theological[3] and pastoral levels. There is a gap, however, in what might be said to AI in the future should it claim or exhibit any human or person-like attributes. This research will critically examine the theological basis for engaging in such dialogue, and the ethical vocabulary to present a faithful voice to the wider society. It employs Paul Tillich’s Correlative enquiry to equip churches with a theological depth to their conversations about and to such entities. Rather than wondering, “What if?” this research considers the day after the emergence of Artificial General Intelligence[4] to answer the more urgent, “What then?”

[1] Derek Schuurman notes how AI has developed at a rate beyond many predictions. See Derek C Schuurman, “ChatGPT and the Rise of AI,” Christian Teachers Journal 31, no. 3 (2023): 11.

[2] Two measures of popularity for the term Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be seen in the so-called Word of the Year categories adopted by major international dictionary publishers. They include Collins Dictionary (2023: AI; Ref i) and Macquarie Dictionary (2023 People’s Choice: “Generative AI,” Ref ii). See (i) David Shariatmadari, “The Acceleration of AI and Other 2023 Trends,” Collins Dictionary Language Blog (blog), November 1, 2023, https://blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lovers/the-acceleration-of-ai-and-other-2023-trends/. (ii) “Word of the Year 2023 - Macquarie,” Word of the Year 2023 (blog), April 18, 2024, https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/word-of-the-year/word-of-the-year-2023/.

[3] Mark Graves, “Framing Theological Investigations of Near-Future AI,” Theology and Science 22, no. 4 (October 2024): 657.

[4] AGI is the point at which Michael Burdett says human intelligence levels are reached or surpassed. See Michael Stephen Burdett, “Proximate and Ultimate Concerns in Christian Ethical Responses to Artificial Intelligence,” Studies in Christian Ethics 36, no. 3 (August 2023): 634. Also, Pei Wang and Ben Goertzel unpack the definition with reference to a range of related terms in the literature. These include strong AI, general intelligent system, true synthetic intelligence, and human-level AI. See “Introduction: Aspects of Artificial General Intelligence,” in Advances in Artificial General Intelligence : Concepts, Architectures and Algorithms: Proceedings of the AGI Workshop 2006, by Pei Wang and Ben Goertzel, Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications (Amsterdam: IOS Press, 2007), 2.