What is artificial intelligence? We started this conversation a week ago talking about AI and some of the dangerous aspects of this technology, but do we really understand what it is?

We used to say, a generation ago, what is this thing called electronic mail? Now, email is commonplace the world over. Then we said, what is the internet? What is Google? What is a search engine? And today we say, what is AI? Well, it’s simply the next generation of the discovery of data and one of these days, it will be as commonplace and normal to us all of those other things. So, what is artificial intelligence?

Lynn Vincent, “Crouching at the keyboard,” January 1, 2026.

Maria Baer, “AI is not your mom,” September 23, 2025.

Samuel D. James, “AI and the crisis of truth,” September 5, 2025.

What would you do if you received a video message from your pastor, the trusted shepherd you have great confidence in, what if he asked you to give money to meet an urgent ministry need he was dealing with? Would you help him? Would you send him money? What you should do is be skeptical that the video is even from him.

Associated Press, “The faith-based tech boom is here—chat with ‘BuddhaBot’ or pay $1.99 for AI Jesus,” April 10, 2026.

Maria Baer, “AI is not your mom,” September 23, 2025.

Samuel D. James, “AI and the crisis of truth,” September 5, 2025.

How did Jesus know when his day was finished? There was always someone else to talk to, always someone else to heal, always more work to do, always more demands on his time. How did Jesus know when this particular day was finished? It’s a question I have asked all of my young pastors because it deals with a common problem, particularly among pastors, but also among all Christians. It is what I call the indispensability syndrome. Pastors sometimes feel the need to be omnipotent. Let’s talk about that.