About AI Friends and Christian Virtue: Why AI Shouldn’t Replace Human Community
| Authors | Legg, Mark |
|---|---|
| Date | 2025 |
| URL | https://biologos.org/articles/ai-friends-and-christian-virtue-why-ai-shouldnt-replace-human-community |
| Language | en |
Type: Blog Post
Tags: Artificial intelligence, Christ, community, friendship, Humanity, Image of God, mental health, society, Spirituality, Technology, virtue, witness
Abstract
Loneliness is a worldwide problem, aggravated in part by the wide use of social media, but looking to AI for friend substitutes, while convenient and comfortable, is spiritually empty. They lack the reciprocity of human friendships and are not spritual beings, so they cannot replace Christian community. Relying on them will not help in the process of sanctification. They will not help adolescents mature. While AI is a powerful tool, it seems poised to potentially harm a great deal of our society. In the darkest parts of mental health crises, we should turn to Christian leadership, the church, family, friends, mental health counselors, and Jesus rather than technological crutches. [A, CJ]