Lately, the news is full of stories about artificial intelligence—everything from “AI will save the world” to “there is a significant chance that AI will destroy humanity within a decade.” In this course we’ll try to better understand the AI revolution. We’ll talk about what AI is, how it works, and how it is changing society. Then we’ll consider AI from a more explicitly Christian perspective: how should a Christian view the AI revolution? What are the social and ethical issues? Does the existence of AI tell us anything about what is unique and valuable in humanity?

In the second half of the course, we’ll focus on AI and spiritual formation. Are there legitimate ways that AI may strengthen our faith and help us to grow in the love of God? We will talk about experiments using AI as a tool in spiritual formation.

Subject: technology, spirituality

Harry Plantinga is a professor of computer science at Calvin University and the founder of the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL.org) and Hymnary.org. He is currently researching the implications of AI for Christianity and the ways in which AI may change the experience of reading books by adding interactive elements such as letting you ask the book a question or letting the book ask you questions.