Two prominent Evangelical Christian figures addressed an open letter to President Trump on Wednesday, expressing concerns about the potential risks of unchecked artificial intelligence and the displacement of human workers through automation.
This letter follows recent comments from Pope Leo XIV, who voiced his apprehension regarding the “defense of human dignity, justice, and labor” in the face of the AI-driven “new industrial revolution.”
Reverends Johnnie Moore and Samuel Rodriguez stated in their letter, “As people of faith, we believe we should rapidly develop powerful AI tools that help cure diseases and solve practical problems, but not autonomous smarter-than-human machines that nobody knows how to control.” They added, “The world is grappling with a new reality because of the pace of the development of this technology, which represents an opportunity of great promise but also of potential peril especially as we approach artificial general intelligence.”
Rodriguez, who leads the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, participated in Trump’s 2017 inauguration. Moore, founder of Kairos, served on Trump’s Evangelical advisory board during his initial presidential campaign.
The letter highlights the increasing collaboration between religious groups and AI safety advocates, who share similar concerns. The Future of Life Institute, an organization dedicated to mitigating the existential risks associated with advanced AI, shared the letter with journalists.
Leading tech companies now generally believe that achieving “artificial general intelligence” (AGI), AI capable of surpassing human expertise in any task, is feasible. Some researchers have even used religious terminology when discussing this technology. The possibility of AGI presents theological challenges, raising questions about the role of God in a universe where a God-like machine could exist.
The Reverends emphasized the spiritual implications of creating intelligence that could exceed human capabilities, stating that it “raises profound theological and ethical questions that must be thoughtfully considered with wisdom.” They also noted that “Virtually all religious traditions warn against a world where work is no longer necessary or where human beings can live their lives without any guardrails.”
Despite its complimentary tone, the letter proposes an approach to AI governance that contrasts with Trump’s current stance. The president views the U.S. as being in a race with China to achieve AGI dominance, and his AI advisor, David Sacks, has cautioned against regulating AI, fearing it would jeopardize the U.S.’s competitive edge. The White House AI team includes advisors who are skeptical of alignment risks, which involve the possibility of AI becoming hostile to humans and causing catastrophic outcomes.
The letter appeals to Trump’s leadership, stating, “We believe you are the world’s leader now by Divine Providence to also guide AI,” and urges him to establish an ethics council to consider the ethical implications of AI development.
The letter clarifies that the U.S. should strive to “win the AI race,” but emphasizes that “this victory simply must not be a victory at any cost.”
The letter echoes concerns previously voiced within the Vatican by both Pope Leo XIV and his predecessor, Pope Francis. Last year, Francis emphasized that AI should enhance, rather than diminish, human dignity during an event at the Vatican.
He questioned whether AI serves humanity’s needs and promotes well-being or enriches a few powerful tech companies at the expense of humanity.
Some Catholic theologians view AGI as a modern manifestation of idolatry.
A Vatican document published in January warns against substituting God with human-made artifacts, stating that AI “may prove even more seductive than traditional idols.” The document emphasizes that AI is a reflection of humanity, created by human minds and dependent on human input and labor.
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