Image A.: Designed by Nicole A Farrington on pictochart.com
Is humanity mature enough for Artificial Intelligence? Can it be trusted with such power? Or are we once again misusing a divine opportunity to heal, uplift, and innovate for the benefit of all? These are not merely religious musings but critical, universal questions grounded in timeless principles. As King David reflected, "What is man that You are mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:4). AI is not merely a technology; it is a test of stewardship.
This post reflects my journey of learning, wrestling, and ultimately formulating a position on what it means to steward AI responsibly. My thesis: AI stewardship demands a fusion of technical literacy, ethical clarity, and spiritual humility to ensure this unprecedented power serves humanity justly and compassionately.
- Foundations: What is AI and Why Does It Matter?
Image B. Designed by Nicole A Farrington using pictochart.com
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the field of computer science dedicated to creating systems capable of performing tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence. These include learning, problem-solving, language processing, decision-making, and more. Since Alan Turing’s 1950 landmark paper, "Computing Machinery and Intelligence," AI has evolved from simple rule-based systems to today’s generative transformers and autonomous agents.
AI is embedded in everything from search engines and recommendation systems to healthcare diagnostics, autonomous vehicles, and financial forecasting. But as its power grows, so does the risk of misuse, bias, and harm. This makes stewardship—the responsible, ethical, and equitable management of AI—absolutely essential.
II. Ethical Considerations: Justice, Mercy, and Humility
In Micah 6:8, the Lord outlines a divine moral compass: "He has shown you, O man, what is good: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."
Justice: Are AI systems benefiting all stakeholders—or just a privileged few? Biased data sets can lead to discriminatory outcomes, especially in hiring, policing, or lending. As AI leaders, we must implement rigorous fairness audits, ensure diverse data sources, and build inclusive teams.
Mercy: AI should be used to serve the vulnerable, not exploit them. Imagine AI used to predict food insecurity or improve elder care—compassionate applications that mirror the heart of service.
Humility: This is perhaps the most neglected virtue in tech culture. We must recognize that AI is not the fruit of our brilliance alone. Proverbs 25:2 reminds us, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search it out." Our discoveries are not for self-exaltation but for kingdom impact.
III. Redemptive Technology: AI Through a Christian Lens
The fear surrounding AI is not unfounded. It stems from real, historical abuses of power and exploitation in the name of "progress." Yet as believers, we are not called to fear but to faith-informed action. We are in a Genesis moment—tasked with naming, taming, and stewarding a new creation.
Scripture says in Deuteronomy 8:18, "But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant." AI should be seen not as a threat but as a tool to multiply justice, mercy, and prosperity—for all nations. Not as a candy jar for the few, but as a shared resource stewarded in love.
IV. Real-World Risks and Responsibilities
To practice true stewardship, we must name the threats:
- Bias & Discrimination: AI systems trained on historical data may perpetuate racial, gender, and economic disparities.
- Surveillance & Privacy: Facial recognition and tracking systems can be weaponized against communities.
- Autonomous Weapons: Machines making life-or-death decisions without human conscience challenge every ethical boundary.
- Overdependence: Delegating moral judgment to algorithms erodes human responsibility.
We must design with explainability, implement algorithmic audits, and ensure human-in-the-loop systems to maintain accountability.
V. Nicole's Framework for AI Stewardship
- Educate Widely: Technical literacy must be democratized. AI shouldn't be mysterious or elite.
- Audit Deeply: Every model should be stress-tested for bias, transparency, and impact.
- Serve Locally: Use AI to solve community-based problems—education, health access, food equity.
- Honor God’s Image: Build systems that respect the dignity of every human being.
- Lead with Love: Let compassion—not just code—drive your innovation.
Image C. Designed by Nicole A. Farrington on Pictochart.com Framework for AI Stewardship
VI. Practical Calls to Action
1. Appoint AI Ethics Committees in your organizations, with cross-disciplinary and faith-representative voices (Blackman, HBR 2022).
2. Use tools like Model Cards or Explainable AI dashboards to document system behavior and logic.
3. Adopt a Stewardship Mandate in company charters: a guiding principle that AI is to serve human flourishing, not replace it.
4. Host Faith & Tech Roundtables—gather leaders in business, church, and tech to co-discern ethical paths forward.
5. Embrace the Daniel Model: Stay distinct, be wise, and influence policy from a place of integrity (Daniel 1:8-20).
Image D. Designed by Nicole A. Farrington on Pictochart.com -5 Pillars of AI Stewardship
VII. Final Reflection: What Legacy Will We Leave?
We are no longer asking "Can we build it?" but "Should we?" As the sands of innovation rush forward, we must anchor our decisions in timeless truth. AI is not just about data and dollars—it’s about discipleship, justice, and wisdom. We have the power to shape the soul of our machines.
So I ask again: Is humanity mature enough to steward AI with care? Maybe not yet. But we, the stewards-in-training, are rising.
Let us build systems worthy of the divine image in which we were made.
References:
- Russell & Norvig, Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, 4th Ed.
- Frei & Morriss, Move Fast & Fix Things, HBR Press, 2023
- Blackman, HBR, "Why You Need an AI Ethics Committee," 2022
- The Holy Bible, various passages (NIV, NKJV)