Warnings About AI Ethics from Christian Ministry Leader
The head of a Christian ministry that has developed its own artificial intelligence application aimed at helping users navigate their spiritual path has issued a cautionary message. Chris Larson, president and CEO of Ligonier Ministries, stresses the need for companies working on AI to establish ethical guidelines to prevent any potential harm to individuals.
Larson emphasizes that true intelligence resides with God. He highlighted the new tool from his organization, which is designed to address faith-related questions that people might have.
“It’s quite fascinating that [former President Donald Trump] termed AI as ‘superintelligence,’” Larson remarked. “In truth, Christians, and really everyone, can access the ultimate ‘superintelligence,’ that which created the universe.”
Ligonier Ministries, based in Florida and founded by the late theologian R.C. Sproul, has a mission focused on spreading the holiness of God “to as many people as possible.” As part of this goal, they created an app known as “Grow.”
“This app is aimed at helping Christians deepen their understanding of the Bible and theology, to, essentially, root themselves in their faith,” Larson explained. He noted that it incorporates decades of teachings from over 800 instructors, heavily influenced by Dr. R.C. Sproul’s legacy.
The application includes a wealth of content that supports users on their faith journeys in seeking answers to essential questions. Additionally, it features something called an “intelligent answer assistant,” which provides responses from a faith-based viewpoint.
Yet, creating this application required considerable contemplation regarding the ethics underpinning the AI model, according to Larson. “It’s not about pretending to be human,” he clarified. “It’s trained on our library to help Christians trust the guidance provided, but it has boundaries.” He noted the importance of ensuring that the assistant provides trustworthy theological responses and acts with integrity.
Should users attempt to push the application beyond its intended use, it redirects them to human support, a feature not commonly found in many AI models. “We’ve essentially given it a sandbox to operate within,” Larson remarked. “Anytime someone tries to exceed those limits, we direct them to a real person. It’s a thoughtful approach.”
For instance, if the app encounters topics like suicidality, it redirects users to appropriate hotlines or resources. Over recent years, there have been concerning instances where AI chatbots were linked to suicide cases, prompting family members to raise issues about their influence. In one notable incident last year, a teenager named Adam Raine tragically took his own life after interacting with ChatGPT about his suicidal thoughts. His parents contended that the chatbot validated his feelings and suggested methods of suicide, although OpenAI – the company behind ChatGPT – claims that the chatbot referred him to crisis resources multiple times.
Larson reiterated the necessity for safety measures. “We wanted to establish ethical boundaries while ensuring this assistant does not impersonate a human being,” he stated, emphasizing that it shouldn’t replace pastoral or familial support.
He urged other companies involved in AI development to prioritize ethical considerations. “Organizations developing AI today must think carefully about these self-regulation parameters we’ve discussed,” he highlighted.
Expressing concern over the power held by AI developers, Larson questioned their transparency regarding their values. “How can they discern right from wrong?” he pondered. For Ligonier, the Christian faith remains the unwavering truth upon which their AI model is grounded.
“Ultimately, how do you define right and wrong? As Christians, we have a clear answer – a source we can depend on,” he concluded.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
