Is artificial intelligence God – given or on its way to becoming God?

Vodičar, Janez (author)

Just as God once created man, man has created artificial intelligence. Although we speak of artificial, machine and anything else that would devalue it, artificial intel ligence is increasingly taking on the role of man’s irreplaceable partner, even the role of God. We will present the advantages and disadvantages of AI and place it within the teachings of the Church. Our question is whether there is still room for the God of Christian Revelation. Using Luc Ferry’s concept of consciousness, we will show that AI lacks the sense of vulnerable consciousness that for many is the essential entry point into religiosity. In doing so, we will draw on Paul Ricoeur’s understanding of the threefold human awareness of passivity. It is this human vulnerability that can lead to an effective theological response to the challenges of digital culture. Finally, we will offer some considerations for theological reflection in the light of the notion of kenosis. It is therefore important to ask what the fundamental Christian message is to respond meaningfully to the challenges of artificial intelligence. All this also calls for a renewal of the foundations of the Church’s pastoral action.

• Language: English
• Keywords: artificial intelligence, consciousness, passivities, kenosis
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 16.04.2026
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 1089-1102
• Numbering: [God.] 95, [br.] 5
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-181958
• UDC: 004.8:2:1
• ISSN on article: 1848-9648
• DOI: 10.53745/bs.95.5.12
• COBISS.SI-ID: 275884035
• Publication date in RUL: 21.04.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Bogoslovska smotra
• Shortened title: Bogosl. smotra
• Publisher: Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta
• ISSN: 1848-9648
• COBISS.SI-ID: 8084570

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
• Description: A creative commons license that bans commercial use, but the users don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Secondary language

• Language: Croatian
• Title: Je li umjetna inteligencija Bogom dana ili na putu da postane Bog?

Abstract

Kao što je Bog stvorio čovjeka tako je čovjek stvorio umjetnu inteligenciju. Iako go vorimo o umjetnomu, o stroju i svemu drugom što bi je obezvrijedilo, umjetna inteli gencija sve više preuzima ulogu čovjekova nezamjenjivog partnera, čak i ulogu Boga. Predstavit ćemo prednosti i nedostatke umjetne inteligencije te je smjestiti unutar crkvenoga nauka. Pitamo se ima li još uvijek mjesta za Boga kršćanske objave. Koristeći se Luc Ferryjevim konceptom svijesti, pokazat ćemo da umjetna inteligencija ne može imati osjećaj) ranjive svijesti, koji je za mnoge bitna ulazna točka u religioznost. Pri tom ćemo crpiti iz Ricœurova razumijevanja trostruke svijesti o pasivnosti. Upravo ta ljudska ranjivost može dovesti do učinkovita teološkog odgovora na izazove digitalne kulture. Konačno, ponudit ćemo neka razmatranja za teološko promišljanje u svjetlu pojma kenosis. Stoga je važno pitati se koja je temeljna kršćanska poruka kako bismo smisleno odgovorili na izazove umjetne inteligencije. Sve to također poziva na obnovu temelja pastoralnog djelovanja Crkve.

• Keywords: umetna inteligenca, pasivnost, kenoza, zavest