The American Bible Society’s second installment of its State of the Bible USA 2024 report asked respondents about their views on artificial intelligence and its role in their faith.
In a statement, Chief Program Officer and State of the Bible Editor-in-Chief John Farquhar Plake said: “Americans are more fearful than hopeful about Artificial Intelligence. People just don’t know how AI will change the culture, but they’re mildly uneasy about it.”
Majorities of Americans disagreed that “artificial intelligence can aid in moral reasoning”, that “the use of artificial intelligence can enhance spiritual practices and promote ‘spiritual health’”, and that “artificial intelligence can produce as well written of a sermon as a pastor, priest or minister”.
Respondents were more divided on whether “the use of AI goes against biblical teaching,” with 40% apiece indicating that they agreed with the statement and expressed uncertainty about it.
And 39 percent of respondents were uncertain about whether “the bad that may result from the use of AI outweighs any positive impacts that may be produced” and agreed that they would “look unfavorably at a pastor or priest using AI to develop sermons or homilies.”
In all of those categories Christians are slightly more concerned about AI than their peers.