Towards a Socio-Theological Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized multiple aspects of human existence and raised substantive questions regarding the ultimate purpose of the human person. Spiritual knowledge advances through scientific discovery, as understanding the universe contributes to knowledge of God. Theology, as a discipline that is both theocentric and anthropocentric, considers AI a product of human scientific ingenuity. Despite extensive debate over the decades concerning AI’s impact on the human person, few studies have resolved the complex theological and epistemological issues involved. This article contends that AI represents a significant development in creation, rapidly redefining established paradigms. How does AI as imago hominis reshape Christian anthropology, and what are the socio-theological implications? This core question guides our exploration. We will examine the human person as an individual endowed with intellect, sensibility, volition, as well as imago Dei. In contrast, AI is governed by code and programmers, and is characterized as imago hominis, subject to inherent limitations. By examining the relationship between AI as imago hominis and the human person as imago Dei, this paper succinctly addresses some key ethical and anthropological concerns.