A new AI lab at a Christian university in California is grounded in theological values that the university hopes will help Christians and people of other faiths keep up with this new technology.
“Biola University’s AI Lab is a dedicated space where students, faculty and staff can come together to explore the complexities of artificial intelligence.,Dr. Michael J. Arena told Fox News Digital.
Arena, who will serve as dean of Biola University’s Crowell School of Business starting in April 2023, previously served as vice president of workforce development at Amazon Web Services. The AI lab will be located in the Crowell School of Business building on campus.
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The institute is intended to “serve as a touchstone for shaping the future of AI,” Arena said in an email, noting that the institute aims to achieve this by “providing education, fostering dialogue, and leading innovative AI projects that are rooted in Christian faith.”
While AI has been a hot topic of discussion, Arena believes educational institutions “have to embrace it or risk falling behind in technology.”
Biola University is launching an AI lab in April 2024. “If we don’t address it, we’re in danger of falling asleep at the wheel,” said Dr. Michael J. Arena (not pictured), dean of Biola University’s Crowell College of Business. (Biola University)
“If we don’t get involved, we risk falling into the trap of falling asleep at the wheel,” Arena said, referring to Christian and faith-centered organizations.
He cited social media as an example of how failure to approach emerging technologies appropriately with a firm regard for moral values can have disastrous consequences.
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“The Beginning [social media] “The Gen Z population is experiencing a steep decline in in-person social interactions, especially among teenagers, exacerbating feelings of loneliness,” Arena said, noting that about three-quarters of Gen Z “admit to feeling lonely sometimes.”
“If we don’t actively get involved in guiding AI development, we risk a repeat of the same thing,” he said.
Biola’s AI lab is unique in that it “emphasizes moral and ethical discernment” over technical skills, Arena said.
“Protecting human dignity”
“Our focus goes beyond creating AI to fostering responsible, ethical and socially beneficial AI,” he said.
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“By prioritizing ethical discernment, the Lab aims to facilitate the mitigation of implicit bias, increase transparency, and uphold human dignity within AI,” Arena continued.
Technologies developed in the new AI lab (not pictured) will “adhere to sustainable practices, avoid exploitation and contribute positively to individual and environmental well-being.” (Josep Lago/AFP via Getty Images)
The AI Lab will focus on “human advancement, not AI,” which is “rooted in core theological beliefs,” Arena said.
“This means integrating AI within a framework that is aligned with Christian values, such as the idea that humans are created in the image of God and have inherent value,” he said.
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“The institute also openly acknowledges God’s creative order and humanity’s responsibility as stewards of creation, as highlighted in Genesis 2:15 and 2:28,” he said.
Technologies developed in the lab will “adhere to sustainable practices, avoid exploitation and contribute positively to the well-being of individuals and the environment.”
Part of the work being done at Biola University’s AI Lab involves creating AI applications for Christians.
Students at Biola University’s AI lab will have the opportunity to create Christian-centered AI applications, the business school’s dean said. (Biola University)
“We aim to make a tangible social impact by using faith-based tools to address concrete needs,” he said.
For example, he noted that one student is working on creating a “comprehensive database of Christian resources with the primary goal of facilitating open access to these resources for research purposes.”
Other applications being developed at the AI Lab include chatbots that “talk” to prospective Biola University students, tools to assist with advising, andCareer Planning Session “Use AI tools,” Arena says.
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According to Arena, the admissions chatbot “can answer general inquiries from prospective students, assist them with the application process and even help schedule campus visits for admissions.”
“All these experiments aim to explore the feasibility and potential benefits of implementing AI solutions to enhance student experience and support services,” he said.
Dr. Michael Arena, dean of Biola University’s Crowell School of Business, pictured (inset), served as vice president of workforce development at Amazon Web Services prior to joining Biola University in April 2023. (Biola University)
Currently, the field of AI is like a “rebellious teenager, eager to explore and push the boundaries,” Arena said.
“In our lab, we emphasize the importance of instilling strong values to guide the development of AI,” he said.
“AI runs the risk of making ethical mistakes unless it has a strong moral foundation.”
“Like a teenager who may go astray without proper guidance, AI runs the risk of making ethical errors without a solid moral foundation.”
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Arena said Christians working with AI “must emphasize the maintenance of human dignity and ethical considerations.”“
This includes looking at potential bias in algorithms and “implementing measures to mitigate bias and uphold ethical standards,” he said.
At Biola University in California, the goal is to develop “ethical” AI based on Christian morality, the dean of the business school said. (iStock)
“Our lab aims to foster meaningful social change while engaging in research, disseminating research findings, and supporting projects aligned with its mission to advance the integration of AI in Christian communities,” Arena said.
He said the students had “already had a lot of discussions” about the ethics of AI and how they view “creative destruction” in relation to work and AI.
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“Ultimately, they discussed what makes us human and what part of that – human relationships – we shouldn’t give up, no matter how good AI gets,” he said.
Arena hopes the school’s commitment to Christianity will enable the lab to “promote moral discernment and human dignity in the realm of AI.”
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“The AI Lab has a strong Christian identity and integrates theological principles to ensure that the development and use of technology is in line with Christian faith and values, and has the potential to provide guidance for ethical AI development,” he said.
