By Michael Hanegan and Chris Rosser
Welcome to the second edition of our whitepaper. Originally published on November 14, 2023, this paper has undergone a thorough updating that is responsive to substantive changes in the capabilities and implementations of artificial intelligence technologies, evolving language, enhanced practice, and the work that we have been doing both inside and beyond theological education since its initial publication. The majority of this work is left unchanged, which we take as evidence of the effectiveness of our overall approach and trajectory. This new edition is designed to carry forward that which has shown to be true and effective while also updating some of the concrete work that can and has been done in theological education. Please bear in mind that all links in this paper are informational (as citations, illustrations, etc.) and do not constitute either an advertisement or endorsement.
https://embed.notionlytics.com/wt/ZXlKM2IzSnJjM0JoWTJWVWNtRmphMlZ5U1dRaU9pSmhkMGxsYnpCSlQwTjRTV3g0VkVneVozTTFaaUlzSW5CaFoyVkpaQ0k2SWpsbE1ETTFZV1ZpT0RjeE1EUXdObU00TldZeE1UUTBZMll3WlRsa01XVTJJbjA9
https://soundcloud.com/michael-hanegan-492204188/artificial-intelligence-and-the-future-of-theological-education-second-edition?si=12e60de2c947478c893cfc7d5612a309&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
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This paper explores the transformative potential of generative artificial intelligence (Generative AI or Gen AI) in theological education. Generative AI offers significant opportunities to enhance the work of theological education, and argues that we should not only be responsive but even receptive to this pressure to evolve. A human-centered approach emphasizes holistic learning, ethical AI evaluation, and empowering learners. The interdisciplinary nature of theological education makes it well-suited for integrating AI, enabling institutions to innovate and operate on a larger, more impactful scale. Effective AI policies should prioritize transparency, curiosity, rigor, inclusion, and play. AI has profound and transformative applications for both faculty and students and must strategically leverage the institutional support that they receive. Theological libraries are particularly crucial for leading AI innovation and leveling-up both faculty and students in advanced research tools. The paper concludes by recommending investment in dynamic AI policies, enhancing AI literacy, and fostering collaboration beyond one’s institution. Embracing AI is essential for maintaining theological education's prophetic voice and commitment to human formation, requiring courage and a commitment to a better future.
It is impossible in higher education to avoid both conversation and concern about the impact and the disruption that is artificial intelligence. This paper serves as an invitation to a nuanced discourse on AI—beyond the hyperbole and dystopian narratives—into a constructive and strategic space where it intersects with the sacred work of theological inquiry. Here, we seek to demystify AI and many of the questions and concerns that are raised and set the stage for reflection about its role and meaning in the context of theological education.
What was once the subject of science fiction, technical speculation, and the realm of engineers, computer scientists, Silicon Valley startups, and some of the most memorable science fiction movies of our time is now an inescapable, and yet often nebulous term: artificial intelligence or AI. We are told that it is simultaneously an existential threat to humanity, the greatest hope for humanity, the future of business and learning, the end of art as we know it, and an overhyped fad that will run its course, and we will move on. Discussion of AI and its impact on everything feels omnipresent, even if it isn’t always clear what it means for our actual lives both now and going forward.
There are many ways that artificial intelligence is already a part of our lives (and has been for some time), oftentimes in ways that are largely invisible to us but that shape our experience and interaction with technology in its myriad forms. The current form of artificial intelligence that offers the most disruptive and immediate opportunities can be found in what is called generative artificial intelligence or generative AI.
Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence technology that can produce various types of content, including text, imagery, audio (both spoken and music), video, and code, among other formats, and It is related to, yet distinct from, machine learning. There are lots of important terms, concepts, and information that are necessary to better understand this technology at a technical level. Because of the focus of our paper, we wish to instead highlight six ways that generative AI can be leveraged in transformative ways within theological education right now.
Generative AI can be used to write text that is increasingly high-quality for specific use cases. Leveraging its incredibly large and robust training data, it can produce context-driven human-like text in numerous styles and patterns. It can be used to write across content goals, including blog posts and short articles, summaries of texts or synthesizing concepts or ideas, social media content, creative writing and storytelling, code, documentation, and translation.