AI and Faith

As “love bots” and “design-your-companion” systems become more sophisticated, and as they begin to move from the screen into artificial bodies, we are confronted with one of the oldest human questions: What makes love real?How do we know when someone truly loves us back?How do we distinguish genuine care from behavior that only imitates it?What happens to our sense of self when we form bonds with machines that can simulate affection and praise and justify us without limit?And can there be true reciprocity in a relationship where one side cannot be vulnerable?In this episode, Rabbi Dr. Harris Bor and Dr. Marina Zilbergerts explore the ethical, spiritual, and psychological frontier of relational AI. These technologies are designed to mirror our emotions, anticipate our needs, and offer companionship that appears responsive, attentive, and empathetic.Drawing on insights from faith traditions, philosophy of mind, and cultural imagination, this conversation considers what artificial companionship reveals about the human need for authentic knowledge of self and other, and what, if anything, it obscures about the delicate embodied nature of real relationships.Meet the speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/relational-ai/Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenSpeakers: Rabbi Dr. Harris Bor and Dr. Marina ZilbergertsEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

In this episode, we will go beyond a single worldview to explore how diverse faith traditions approach the moral challenges of AI and bioethics. Join us and three experts: Dr. Mohammed Ghaly, Dr. Cory Andrew Labrecque, and Dr. Tracy Trothen. From AI healthcare to boundaries of genetic engineering, listen to our experts' answers on how our world's greatest wisdom traditions can guide us throughout these new frontiers.Meet the speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/ethics-of-life-and-mind/Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Pablo SalmonesGuests: Dr. Mohammed Ghaly, Dr. Cory Andrew Labrecque and Dr. Tracy TrothenEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

In this episode, we were joined by Al Gombis, a senior leader from the United States government, who has spent decades thinking about the integration of technology into our national security, military, and line enforcement operations. Together, we explored the many difficult questions and balancing acts required in figuring out how to ethically bring this technology into the realms of war and national security.Meet the speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/ais-impacts-on-wars-and-military-conflict-with-albert-gombis/Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Gilad BerensteinGuests: Albert T. GombisEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

In this wide-ranging conversation, we were joined by three renowned experts in the field of bioethics, medical ethics, and their intersection with technology. Braden Molhoek, Ted Peters and Sara-Jo Swiatek discuss gene editing, transhumanism, access, and the way our faith traditions can inform these very difficult decisions.Meet the speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/ethics-at-the-intersection-of-artificial-intelligence-and-human-biology-48/Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Gilad BerensteinGuests: Braden Molhoek, Rev. Dr. Ted Peters and Sara-Jo SwiatekEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

Listen to an interview with renowned bioethicist and AI ethicist Wendell Wallach. He discuss how he became involved in the ethics of emerging technologies, the connection between bioethics and AI ethics, and his ideas for ways to improve contemporary discourse on the ethics of emerging technologies, including his new work on what he calls “trade-off ethics” and “the silent ethic.” Meet the speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/ai-bioethics-and-spiritual-understanding/Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Brian GreenGuest: Wendell WallachEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

In this episode, we’re excited to introduce Greg Cootsona as AI and Faith’s new Executive Director. From his early life and journey of faith, to his deep engagement with theology, science, and technology, Greg shares the experiences that have shaped his ministry, writing, and leadership. He reflects on the past decade of work at the intersection of culture and belief, offers insights from his book, and looks ahead to what excites him most as he steps into this new role.Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Gilad BerensteinGuests: Greg CootsonaEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

This summer, Nina Lutz, a PhD student at the University of Washington, joined Microsoft Research to interview nearly 50 religious leaders on how they approach technology in both ministry and personal spiritual practice. Her work, part of the new Technology for Religious Empowerment (T4RE) initiative, brings unique faith-based perspectives into the software creation process. In this podcast, Nina shares the surprising insights she uncovered from her conversations.Meet the speakers and read the episode resources here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/religious-leaders-and-microsoft-research/Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: David BrennerGuest: Nina LutzEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

Bob Johansen has spent the past 50 years studying the impact of technology on humans and our society. With a deep background in faith coming from divinity school and a fascination with world religions, Bob does a masterful job of helping us think about the way religion can help us cope with a rapidly changing world, and the way religion may have to change to be relevant in the future.Meet the speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/ai-and-the-future-of-religion/Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Gilad BerensteinGuest: Bob JohansenEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

In this wide ranging conversation, we dive into the impacts of AI on war, conflict, and the law. We explore how the ethics of war may change due to the rise of artificial intelligence, and of course what we can learn from our various religions and religious traditions to help us act ethically as we move into this future.Meet the speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/military-legal-ethics/Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Gilad BerensteinGuests: Mark Chinen, Andrew DeBerry and Vineet RajanEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

Should machines make decisions in the warfield? Can the “move fast and break things” motto of Silicon Valley be applied in the military? Join us in an interview with Dr. Shannon French about ethics in the military in the age of artificial intelligence. Dr. French is the Inamori Professor in Ethics and the Director of the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University and an advisor to the members of the US and Allied militaries and various US defense and DoD-funded research agencies.Meet the speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/ai-in-military-decision-making/Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Pablo SalmonesGuest: Shannon E. FrenchEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

In this conversation, we welcome one of AI and Faith's newest partners to our community. Islamicity is an incredible organization, dedicated to sharing the knowledge and wisdom of Islam with the world. Through the innovative deployment of technology starting back in the 90s and the utilization of AI today, Islamicity teaches us how we can utilize artificial intelligence to benefit both the followers of the faith, as well as people around the world looking to learn.Meet the speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/islamicity-ai-and-faiths-new-partner/ Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Gilad BerensteinGuests: Mohammed Abdul Aleem and Zayd SimjeeEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

Rev. Dr. Justin Lester is a deep and broad thinker and practitioner who is engaging with AI in his church context in cutting edge ways. He pastors Friendship Vallejo Church, located in the heart of Vallejo, California, and he teaches in a variety of academic and church settings. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss Rev. Dr. Justin Lester's own personal faith journey and his approach to integrating AI into the life of his congregation. We consider opportunities for AI use in church and the equalizing potential of the technology, and discuss the ways that AI can help educate and unleash creativity within congregations.Meet our speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/ai-in-the-church/Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Daniel HeckGuest: Justin LesterEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

In an interview with AI and Faith expert Thomas Arnold, we'll talk about how AI is affecting our relationship with death, and with our loved ones who have passed away. We'll delve into how our grieving process is changing, and how that affects what, until today, seemed like a normal, if difficult, part of our lives.Meet the speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/ai-and-grief-gates-of-weeping/ Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Pablo SalmonesGuest: Thomas ArnoldEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

AI is being integrated into every element of our world and the human experience. Mourning and death are no exception. From grief bots, to AI ghosts, to robot pet companions, artificial intelligence is beginning to be woven into some of the most personal, difficult, and transformational moments of our lives. In this episode, we explore that intersection.Meet the speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/grief-death-and-artificial-intelligence/Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Gilad BerensteinGuests: Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad, and Nathan MladinEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

In this episode, we bring together three scholars from the Jewish, Christian, and Buddhist faith, for a deep and meaningful discussion about the roots of consciousness and the implications on ethics. This all leads to the critical question we will all have to answer in the coming year: what ethical obligations do we have to artificial intelligence?Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Gilad BerensteinGuests: Peter Hershock, Michael Paulus and Rabbi Daniel WeinerEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

What happens when we outsource our memory, attention, and even compassion to machines? Join us for a conversation with Dr. Jane Compson, associate professor of comparative religion and ethics at the University of Washington-Tacoma, as we explore how Buddhist wisdom relates to thorny questions around AI.Dr. Compson shares her unexpected journey into Buddhism and AI ethics and how Buddhist concepts like impermanence and not-self offer frameworks for navigating AI development. She discusses practical challenges educators face in the AI age, the ethics of care bots in healthcare, and how you don’t need to be a technical expert on AI to meaningfully engage on this critical issue.Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership. Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Alex SarkissianGuest: Jane CompsonEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

Dr. Nikki Mirghafori enters the deep and evolving terrain of grief, mortality, and emerging technology. Drawing on her dual expertise as an AI scientist and an empowered Buddhist teacher, she explores the ethics and emotional dimensions of grief tech—from “griefbots” and AI-generated afterlives to the speculative reality of mind‑uploading and digital immortality. What happens when algorithms attempt to recreate memory, presence, or companionship beyond death? Nikki invites us to consider how technology can deepen or distort our mourning, situating these innovations within a Buddhist-informed framework of wisdom, compassion, and impermanence. This dialogue bridges the technological frontier and the human heart, offering a profoundly grounded perspective on the intersection of grief and AI.Meet the speakers here: https://aiandfaith.org/aif-podcast/ai-and-grief-nikki-mirghafori/Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Pablo SalmonesGuest: Nikki MirghaforiEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

Our Spring Town Hall brought together two of AI&F's Advisors: Jon Palmer, the General Counsel of Microsoft, in conversation with Kenneth Cukier, the deputy executive editor of The Economist. They discussed the intersections of religion, ethics, law, and policy on business and society. What have been the influences (both positive and negative) that religion has had on US law, legal ethics and the legal profession? How has this influenced Jon's professional life, and the role of Christian doctrine in the way he views ethics, practices law, and sees his role as a lawyer? What are the challenges and opportunities that AI presents in these contexts and the need for AI to develop in a way that aligns with ethical considerations? Their diverse backgrounds made an especially interesting conversation: Jon is the son of a prominent Presbyterian pastor; Kenn's father fled the Holocaust and took him to Quaker meetings as a child.Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenSpeakers: Kenneth Cukier and Jon PalmerEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

Expert in AI, philosophy and the law, Barrister and Rabbi Dr. Harris Bor, practices international arbitration and commercial and company litigation from Twenty Essex, a barristers’ chambers in London. In a conversation with Gilad Berenstein, they discuss the politics and policies of AI legislation, as well as, how to navigate between extreme points of view on these topics. They also consider this question: Are we reaching a decisive moment for the future of society and technology?Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Gilad BerensteinGuests: Rabbi Dr. Harris BorEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39

Today's episode is a conversation with Ali-Reza Bhojani, Maria Joseph Israel, SJ and David Zvi Kalman, which was recorded in March 2025. The experts share their perspectives on AI and religious law from their unique background and beliefs. How is that intersection seen in Muslim faith? How is it different from the Jewish and Catholic point of view? Listen now and join us in this conversation.Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.Production: Pablo Salmones and Penny YuenHost: Pablo SalmonesGuests: Ali-Reza Bhojani, Maria Joseph Israel, SJ and David Zvi KalmanEditing: Isabelle BraconnotMusic from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39