Jonathan kemper UF3vfh V04 SA unsplash
Artificial Intelligence

10 resources you should know about Artificial Intelligence

Want to engage in a loving and logical manner when talking to people about Artificial Intelligence? Unsure where to begin in understanding what is actually going on? Here are ten resources that will help you.

Written by Peter Ladd

1. 'The Robots are Coming', Nigel Cameron

In an age of ever increasing technological change, theologian Nigel Cameron has written this short book in collaboration with CARE, examining what these developments might mean for us as Christians. In the quest 'to make robots human' , what is beneficial to us and what is dangerous? What does it mean to be human in the twenty-first century?

To buy a copy for the reduced price of just £4.99, contact CARE at mail@care.org.uk.

2. '2084 and the AI revolution', John Lennox

This recent book from well-known Christian mathematician and philosopher John Lennox ponders many of the practical implications of the rise in technology, including its impact on the advertising industry, the way data can be used in surveillance, and potential improvements which can be made in medicine, manufacturing and the military. Excellent at dispelling the facts from the fiction, Lennox traces out what we should - and shouldn’t - be worried about.

A new edition is due in January 2025 which will also include sections about how we should respond to ChatGPT.

3. 'Made in our image', Stephen Driscoll

A good introduction to thinking about technology through a Christian lens, this book examines technology through the prism of God’s big story of salvation, with chapters on Creation, the Fall, the Cross and New Creation.

4. 'The age of AI', Jason Thacker

Jason Thacker, associate research fellow at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, is passionate about bringing the truth of the gospel to every issue raised by Artificial Intelligence. Rooted in Scripture, this book provides reassurance for any who are worried about dystopian futures, as well as speaking into how we should respond as Christians, as individuals, in our relationships, and in our policy-making.

5. 'The Church and AI', David Betts

Unsure how Artificial Intelligence is going to affect your church? Involved in ministry and intrigued by the possibility of using tech to improve your effectiveness? David Betts has written a practical, balanced guide to help you through your questions, looking at opportunities for efficiency while also sounding a cautionary note about areas where technology shouldn’t be used. Recommended for church leaders in particular.

6. 'The robot will see you now', John Wyatt and Stephen N Williams (ed.)

This collection of essays, edited by John Wyatt and Stephen N Williams, is more academic in nature, but offers a number of helpful perspectives on a wide variety of topics.

Initial chapters examine contemporary attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence, before a number of essays examining its implications for our understanding of humanness. The final section focuses on ethical and social issues, with essays on the workforce, simulated relationships, the use of AI in artistic creation, and questions around surveillance.

7. 'For the sake of the future', CARE

In 2018, CARE hosted a conference exploring the theological, practical and social implications of the rapid advances in technological capability and the rise of artificial intelligence.

All the talks, which brought together experts in the field, remain on the CARE YouTube channel today, including John Lennox speaking about what it means to be human, Kathleen Richardson on sex robots, Colin Samuelson on the impact of robotics on economics, and Jon Cruddas, then Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham, about how to formulate policy in this emerging area.

8. 'The AI dilemma', Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin

This address, given by Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin in 2023 to leading figures within the technology industry, is an excellent call to slow down in the race to control the AI market until safety measures have been implemented, and implications have been fully examined. A good introduction to the dangers posed by already existing technologies which are used in our every day.

9. johnwyatt.com

John Wyatt is one of the foremost contemporary Christian ethicists today. Although his website covers far more than just issues around Artificial Intelligence, he has a particular interest in emerging technologies, and the site hosts essays of his which have been written over a number of years.

His podcast, produced alongside his son Tim, a religious journalist for the Premier network, also contains a number of episodes on the subject.

10. humanetech.com

Although not a Christian website, the Centre for Humane Technology was founded in 2018 and has compiled a number of resources explaining potential dangers of Artificial Intelligence.

Their online course ‘Foundations of Humane Technology’ is a good introduction for professionals who are trying to work how to use - or not use - AI in their workplace, and they also host a bi-weekly podcast, ‘Your Undivided Attention’ on which they interview many of the key figures within the industry.

Share