Walking a Tightrope
Reflections on the Missional AI Global Summit
Photo by Sean Benesh on Unsplash
Artificial Intelligence is causing us to question who we are and what we do. The implications on the human experience are deep and the applications in human endeavor are wide. It is no wonder that we find ourselves in awe of AI’s capabilities while we recoil at many of the implications. This is unavoidable.
This reality was on display when over 600 faith-based leaders gathered in San Jose, California a few weeks ago for the annual Missional AI Global Summit. The event was uniquely a mix of product showcase, philosophical and theological analysis, and practical implementation. Minds darted between these three focal points punctuated by the dramatic music and the enthusiastic clapping that each talk received.
The speakers were clearly walking a tight rope. “How do we invite the audience into our thoughtful wrestling; while at the same time help them plow ahead with AI adoption?” Different speakers tackled this in distinct ways. Some picked a focal point and zoomed in. Others tried to give all three equal attention. Finally, some took a more prophetic approach by calling the audience to leave their categories behind altogether.
The conference itself has grown significantly over the past few years. The organizers did a wonderful job bringing key voices together and creating good spaces for collaboration and connection. The growth of this sector showed in the number of “first time attendees” who stood when a speaker gave them the opportunity. This means that many of the people attending were in the early stages of collaboration and exploration.
The Theological Mirror: Identity and Calling
Central to the summit was the exploration of how AI reshapes our understanding of ourselves in relation to the Creator. In a world increasingly ‘engulfed in competence,’ as John Lennox described, the Gospel serves as the ultimate story of God re-engaging His creation. This tension between human pursuit of control and the reality of human limits was a recurring motif.
Theologian Ed Stetzer provided good insight into the “Imago Dei” when he said that while AI can mimic human output, it does not bear the Image of God. Instead, AI functions as a mirror, amplifying both our brilliant creativity and our inherent brokenness. As Sam Chiang noted, citing Dwarkesh Patel, we must ask if our existing moral frameworks are robust enough to absorb the rapid advancements humans are currently engineering.
The danger lies in the quality of our attention. Andrew McLuhan reminded the audience that sustained attention is formational. In the digital age, we must be wary, for “we become what we behold.”
From Agentic Control to Apostolic Faithfulness
The transition from philosophy to practice requires a shift in character. Pat Gelsinger raised poignant questions regarding the risks of “near-infinite vision” and the potential for delayed accountability in automated systems. The consensus among speakers was that speed should not come at the expense of humility and dignity.
Rather than striving for “agentic control,” the desire to master every outcome, Tyler Prieb suggested a move toward “apostolic faithfulness.” This involves a posture of trust and stewardship rather than just optimization. James Kelly of FaithTech expanded on this by presenting a spectrum for technological engagement from Reckless, to Responsible, and finally Redemptive uses.
The Prophetic Voice in an Optimized Culture
The summit also served as a warning. James Kelly quoted Andy Crouch, with a call for the church to speak prophetically into a world driven by prediction and optimization. Innovation without reverence, as Sam Chiang suggested, mirrors the Tower of Babel narrative: a pursuit of defined by pride and selfishness.
Conclusion: Getting Good on the High Rope
The reality is that innovators, strategists, and technologists seeking to integrate AI into nonprofit work will need to walk a tight rope. There will be many difficult decisions to make as we discern how to deploy it based on values and aware of the tradeoffs between capability and connection. But the tight rope itself will be an amazing training ground. It will force those who are interested in thoughtfully deploying AI to seek God, set aside their own priorities and find ways to serve well.
Note: I wrote all the notes from the event as well as the intro and conclusion to this article. I used AI to summarize my notes into the three sections I’ve presented in this article and then edited it as needed.
Tools I Heard About
These links are tools I heard about at the conference.
Biblingo: www.biblingo.com (Learning Hebrew, Greek, Latin)
Bible Study Builder: https://biblestudies.donbarger.com (Builds Bible Study Plans)
Twelve: https://www.twelveapp.co (Youth focused social media app for discipleship)
Codex: https://codexeditor.app (Bible translation related, open source, lean translation management)
Gamaliel: https://gamaliel.ai (Interactive Bible study)
Capture Culture: https://getcaptureculture.com (Capturing stories in the field)
Xuxa: https://xuxa.app (Family App for helping generations interact and connect with each other)
Kairos: https://kairoschat.ai (Discipleship chat built to support Iranian Church and expanded)
Faithbot - https://www.faithbot.tools/faithbot.html (Southern Baptist Foreign Missions AI Chatbot)
Velora: https://velorabible.com (Reading Scripture in Church)
MyBibleTools.com – https://github.com/authenticwalk/mybibletoolbox-data (AI-ready Bible commentary resources for technical people to use)
FlockConnect: https://flockconnect.com (Coordinating community connection)