AI’s potential to personalise faith and weaken spirituality may lead people to seek guidance from AI rather than the Holy Spirit, observes Korean theologian Yoon-Tae Kim
Rev. Dr Yoon-Tae Kim
Cyberjaya, Malaysia: “There may be situations in which we trust and seek the advice and guidance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) rather than the Holy Spirit. These could be the potential implications of fast-growing AI for faith, spirituality, and the mission of the Church,” observed Rev. Dr Yoon-Tae Kim, Professor of Mission Studies at Daejeon Theological University and Senior Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Korea.
Delivering a thematic presentation on the third day of the CCA international study consultation in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, during the session ‘Future, Ethical, and Theological Horizons of Artificial Intelligence,’ Rev. Dr Kim traced the history of AI and examined its current realities and future implications for humanity, ethics, and theology.
While acknowledging AI’s potential to personalise faith experiences or support administrative tasks, he warned of the risk of ‘spiritual weakening’. Dr Kim, who is also a member of CCA’s programme committee, observed that rapid technological growth may lead people to rely more on the advice of Artificial Intelligence than on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, underscoring the urgent need for sound theological discernment in the digital age.
A pioneer in studying the AI landscape in South Korea, particularly its ethical and theological dimensions, Dr Kim situated AI at the heart of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He described the present as “a time of great historical transition where the lines between the physical, digital, and biological worlds are increasingly blurred.”
He reminded participants that Christianity itself now stands at a defining moment, facing questions about faith, identity, and human uniqueness in an era dominated by technology.
Tracing AI’s development from its early roots to the present-day generative models, Dr Kim noted that “finally, AI that can understand and talk to humans has emerged.” Looking ahead, he predicted the rapid convergence of AI with medicine, robotics, and the metaverse, emphasising that “Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could bring transformative breakthroughs, from curing diseases and tackling climate change to reshaping global education and economic systems.”
Echoing American computer scientist and futurist Ray Kurzweil’s warning that “once the technical singularity comes, a world unfolds where human knowledge and laws do not work”, Dr Kim cautioned that AGI and Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) may present existential risks for humanity.
Turning to ethical concerns, Dr Kim highlighted the dangers of algorithmic bias, surveillance, and the erosion of privacy. “If AI learns from biased data, it can amplify prejudice, exacerbating inequality rather than solving it,” he explained. He observed the critical dilemmas of autonomy and responsibility, questioning accountability in scenarios involving self-driving cars, AI-assisted medical diagnoses, or autonomous weapons, and he warned of the implications for human dignity and work. “Massive job displacement due to advancements in AI and robotics could deepen inequality and cause social unrest. The meaning of work will change, and discussions about new social safety nets like basic income will inevitably follow,” he observed.
At the farthest ethical horizon, Dr Kim invited deeper reflection on the question of humanity itself: “AI becomes a mirror reflecting ourselves, posing the question, ‘What is humanity?’”
He also raised theological questions concerning free will, sin, and moral responsibility, asking, “If an autonomously operating AI causes harm, who is responsible—the AI itself, the developers, or the users?”
Echoing similar sentiments from other presentations during the consultation, Dr Kim also underscored the danger of idolatry, warning that “when humans place excessive trust in their own creation, AI can become a new form of idol, weakening human agency and faith”.
Within his denomination, the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK), Dr Kim has also successfully proposed the establishment of a Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence, which was formally adopted in 2024. This pioneering initiative reflects his commitment to guiding faith communities towards ethical engagement with emerging technologies.
Dr Kim called on the churches in Asia to develop a “missionary response to AI,” urging the faithful to regard AI as “more than a mere tool but as a being that interacts with human life and spirituality.” “Online virtual space should be considered another end of the earth, a new mission field,” he added.
Dr Kim concluded by urging the Asian Church to act decisively, offering a striking reminder of its moral responsibility in this age of rapid change: “Let us participate in the algorithm development phase to foster the creation of good AI. Let us provide ethical guidelines to AI companies before AI escapes human control. To nurture AI well, we must become good parents, teachers, and Christians. Perhaps this is God’s mission for the Church in the age of AI – to prevent an apocalyptic disaster.”
