Artificial intelligence, much like the internet, is here and it looks like it is here to stay.
While many are still weary of the new technologies, with many of the minds on the frontline of its development warning of the dangers associated with the unproven AI, others are pushing forward into the new frontier in all areas of society and culture.
Including the church.
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Now, a new artificial intelligence platform, Pulpit AI, is set to launch later this summer, providing church leaders and volunteers a way to save time on everyday tasks by generating content from sermons to engage congregants beyond church walls.
Founded by Michael Whittle, Pulpit AI aims to support Christian leaders by simplifying the creation of content the church puts out.
Here are some of the ways he hopes Pulpit AI will revolutionize work at the church:
- Time Savings: Pulpit AI aims to save hours by automating the creation of religious content, freeing up church leaders to focus on other tasks. It helps church media teams get past the initial struggle of starting from a blank page.
- Content Creation: The platform repurposes uploaded sermons or religious podcasts into social media highlights, blog posts, discussion questions and other forms of content. It ensures that theologically solid source material is reflected in the output content.
- Engagement: Allows pastors to maintain a digital connection with their congregations throughout the week and on social media. Offers congregations content to interact with during the week, providing a homegrown alternative to online content from Christian influencers.
- Support for Small and Medium-sized Churches: Particularly beneficial for churches with limited or volunteer staff, providing operational leverage in media and resource creation. Aims to transform every church into a resourcing church for its congregation.
- Technological Advancement: Keeps pastors and church leaders up-to-date with technological advancements without compromising their role in sermon creation. Encourages theological and philosophical discussions about the use of AI in religious contexts.
- Increased Efficiency: Expected to save church staff hours each week, allowing more time for direct interaction with the congregation. Enables churches to be more involved in their congregation’s digital content consumption and spiritual growth.
For some, the practicality of adapting to new technology seems like a no-brainer, but for others, allowing AI into the church is a security risk, a way to allow the secular world to influence the church.
“Pulpit AI analyzes long form audio and video, then repurposes that into various forms of content,” Whittle says in an interview with Fox News. “Pulpit AI’s output is taken directly from the source material. If the source material is theologically solid, the content Pulpit AI creates will reflect that back.”
Wherever you stand on the spectrum of opinion on this new technology, take the Bible’s advice and pray for wisdom and discernment when unsure about a situation. Read the book of Proverbs and ask God for wisdom in your daily routine and how to navigate this new world that we are entering.
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James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.