While Christians remain on the fence on the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI), one Christian university is hoping to encourage Christians to use the new technology with the creation of a new AI lab. Biola University in California has opened a new AI lab in its Cromwell School of Business with the intention that the lab will “be a crucible for shaping the future of AI,” according to Dr. Michael J. Arena, dean of Cromwell. Although he acknowledged the concerns Christians have with the new technology, he insisted it’s necessary for Christians to keep up. “If we don’t engage, we risk falling asleep at the wheel,” he warned Fox News Digital. He warned that the lack of preparation is what has allowed new technologies like social media to negatively impact the mental health of Gen Z. “Without proactive involvement in guiding AI’s development, there’s a risk that we will replicate this story,” warned Arena.Arena said the lab is meant to take an ethical approach to AI, therefore hopefully bypassing the concerns that many Christians have with the technology. “By prioritizing ethical discernment, the lab strives to better facilitate the mitigation of potential biases, promote greater transparency and uphold human dignity within AI,” he said. Dr. David Bourgeois, professor of business analytics in the Crowell School of Business at Biola, who will serve as director of the AI Lab, outlined its mission. “The mission of the Artificial Intelligence Lab at Biola is to educate, engage and experiment with AI in a way that reflects the Christian commitment to moral and ethical discernment, human dignity, and the unique capacities inherent in the image of God. We aim to be a resource center, actively shaping the future of AI by providing education, fostering dialogue, and leading innovative AI projects rooted in the Christian tradition.”

Arena and Bourgeois face an uphill battle. The American Bible Society’s State of the Bible USA 2024 found that Scripture-engaged respondents were less optimistic about the benefits of AI than other respondents. They were also less likely to agree with the statement that “Artificial intelligence can aid in moral reasoning.” Arena, however, believes Biola can change that perspective. “Biola is exceptionally positioned as a leader in faith integration and the work in the lab will lead in that way. It will be about holistic education, aiming to produce future leaders equipped not only with technical proficiency but also grounded in Christian beliefs,” he said. “This comprehensive approach ensures that students are not only prepared for AI careers but also possess moral and ethical discernment, contributing to a workforce aligned with Christian principles.”