It is striking that, for all the interest in artificial intelligence, we do not yet have a resource called 'artificial wisdom.' A common way of understanding wisdom, in ancient literature like Proverbs, is the ability to make good decisions. AI, like all technology since Babel, carries both wonderful opportunity if used well and serious threats if mis-used. But wisdom, like trust, remains forever in the provenance of persons.

A new national study points to a significant shift: millions of Americans — especially younger adults — are turning to AI for spiritual input, with some Christians even using it for prayer and Bible study. As digital tools begin to share space once held by pastors and mentors, the deeper question emerges: who is actually shaping our inner lives?

That influence extends beyond guidance into relationship itself. More people are looking to AI companions for emotional support, even as psychologists caution that these interactions may erode real-world connection and deepen isolation. ⁱ For Christian spiritual formation, this raises a critical concern: how are our habits of love and community being reshaped?

Taken together, the trajectory is sobering. As AI moves from tool to companion — and even substitute for human presence — we may be altering our very capacity to relate, to flourish, and to love. The question for formation becomes unavoidable: if our relationships are increasingly mediated by machines, what kind of people are we becoming?

The Lausanne Movement calls for clarity amid the hype: AI can assist biblical engagement, but it cannot discern truth, bear God's image, or replace Spirit-led interpretation. The danger isn't using AI — it's forgetting it's a tool, not a voice with authority over Scripture or formation.

That warning deepens in BioLogos's Frankenstein reflection: when technological power outruns wisdom, our creations don't just serve us — they reshape us. ^iv AI exposes a spiritual crisis — confusing mastery with maturity — and forces the church to ask whether innovation is forming wisdom or quietly eroding it.

The stakes escalate further in "AI and Spirituality: The Disturbing Implications": AI doesn't merely extend human ability — it mirrors and amplifies it, raising unsettling questions about consciousness, soul, and identity. As machines imitate inner life without possessing it, the line between authentic spirituality and convincing simulation becomes dangerously thin.

AI rewires our brains & reshapes our relationships.^(v)