AI and the Unforeseen Consequences for Religious Liberty 

AI presents new challenges across almost every sphere of society. It has already transformed everything from automobiles to animation and much more. Indeed, humanity's capacity to imagine and create new technologies is a gift uniquely endowed in creatures made in God's image. While we applaud technological advancement, we also pause to consider the unforeseen consequences of any technology that mimics the transcendent qualities of omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. One such consequence is AI’s effect on religious liberty.Religious liberty is our nation’s first freedom. Religious freedom not only preserves human dignity but also serves as a foundation for other freedoms, such as freedom of speech and freedom of association. Thus, religious freedom must be protected from all threats—including unforeseen consequences of Artificial Intelligence.

The Semantic Problem

Philosopher John Searle noted that computers cannot provide “intentionality”—the philosopher’s technical term for meaning or understanding.1 Searle argued that AI’s large language models are trained to identify syntactic formation—how words are organized and arranged. But understanding syntax isn’t the same as understanding the meaning. AI does not recognize semantics, the meaning of words, and their context is often distorted.While computer systems can properly describe language, they cannot grasp the meaning behind the words they describe. This limitation presents significant challenges when AI interacts with religious concepts and doctrines. Religious language is often rich with deeper meaning and symbolism.Moreover, research by the Catholic League finds that nearly 50% of the tech industry identifies as atheist or agnostic . This doesn’t necessarily mean there is a plot against people of faith, nor does it imply that non-believers can’t hold similar moral values. But we can’t ignore that some coders are openly hostile to religion, especially Christianity. At best, it means that a lack of accurate knowledge about religion and its importance to society will inevitably lead to oversights and misrepresentations; at worst, it means anti-Christian bias will influence AI models. We simply need to think back to how the early church was accused of cannibalism and incest because eucharistic and familial language was not understood.

Opportunities to Promote Religious Liberty

Nevertheless, AI companies have great potential to preserve and promote doctrinally sound religious teaching. But to do so, there must be a greater emphasis on consulting theologians and clergy. AI companies can promote religious liberty by establishing forums that help programmers understand the concerns of faith communities. Additionally, tech companies can develop partnerships with seminaries and scholarship programs to support ongoing religious education. There is precedent for such collaboration, as tech companies routinely consult with mental health experts and medical professionals. Big tech must take seriously its responsibility to preserve and promote that which is uniquely human—the religious conscience. Moreover, government policies must ensure religious liberty is protected. China’s use of AI to monitor and oppress religious communities—tracking church attendance, scanning faces at worship services, and censoring religious content online—gives us a chilling example of what happens when technology operates without regard for human dignity. Without federal AI standards that protect and promote religious freedom, we risk allowing similar surveillance capabilities to erode the very principles on which our nation was founded. As the United States competes to win the AI race, we must recognize that technological supremacy must not cause us to sacrifice the freedoms that define us. Federal protection provides guardrails that ensure American innovation serves human flourishing rather than undermining it.

The Stakes Are High

AI technology is here to stay—it will continue to shape every dimension of human existence, including how we worship, practice our faith, and pass on religious traditions. The question before us is not whether AI will influence religious life, but whether it will do so in ways that honor human dignity and the transcendent truths that have sustained civilization for millennia. By establishing values that protect religious freedom and recognize humanity’s unique status as bearers of God’s image, we ensure that technological progress serves genuine human flourishing rather than diminishing what makes us most human.

Dr. Daniel Trippie serves as director for Faith Engagement at the America First Policy Institute.