As AI develops at extraordinary speed, amid warnings that it could kill off humanity within the decade through viruses or collapsing infrastructure, our briefing considers the role of religion in addressing the threat. In the last few months, the Pope, the King, and Church of England bishops have become prominent voices warning about the potential risks posed by AI.
In this Religion Media Centre briefing, the panel considers what happens to our understanding of what it means to be human, if machines become increasingly capable of reasoning, creating and making decisions? How are religious traditions responding to both the opportunities and the ethical and theological questions that arise? And how are ideas of the apocalypse being woven into the AI doom story. Hosted by Roger Bolton, the guests are:
- Bishop Steven Croft – former Bishop of Oxford who has led on AI issues for the Church of England
- Prof Beth Singler – Professor of Digital Religion(s) at the University of Zurich, who studies the social, ethical, philosophical and religious implications of AI and robotics
- Dr Sam Tranter – McDonald Postdoctoral Fellow in Christian Ethics and Public Life at Oxford. His main research focus has been developing theological responses to the moral, social and political questions raised by emerging technologies, including AI
- Benjamin Crockett – joining from California. Director of Content at Longbeard, the Catholic technology company behind Magisterium AI and host of the Catholic
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