Dr. Tim Clinton of the American Association of Christian Counselors, Rev. Johnnie Moore of the Congress of Christian Leaders, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, and others are asking for the formation of an advisory council that would pay special attention to what artificial intelligence (AI) "CAN do" and "what it SHOULD do."
"Amidst everything else you are achieving, you are the AI President, having ascended again to the presidency exactly as this technology has reached its own ascendancy," the letter begins. "As people of faith, we believe you are the world's leader now by Divine Providence to also guide AI."
It goes on to point out that hundreds of AI researchers and industry leaders, including Elon Musk and Bill Gates, have warned that this technology could potentially lead to massive human suffering.
"There is an attempt to create some guardrails, but we're lacking the ethical, the moral framework to make certain that artificial intelligence is exclusively engaged and utilized for the purpose of advancing the greater good," says Pastor Rodriguez.
The letter also acknowledges its signees' desire for the U.S. to win the world AI race, especially against China, which Rodriguez says has no regard for moral or ethical guardrails.
He expects AI to revolutionize the world, but he says it must be managed.
"We are evangelicals, and other Christians, who support technological innovation. We are pro-science," the letter states. "We are also pro-economic prosperity, and economic leadership for America and our friends. We do not want to see the AI revolution slowing, but we want to see the AI revolution accelerating responsibly."
Christians have concern that this sort of "self-affirming, without-limits intelligence" will get out of control, Rodriguez adds.
"I personally see AI… as the primary technological conduit by which diseases can be cured, how people can come out of poverty," the pastor tells AFN. "But what we don't want to do is produce autonomous machines that surpass human control and threaten human dignity."
He calls this a "Tower of Babel moment."
"Humanity reached beyond its limit without spiritual wisdom," Rodrigues summarizes. "It's an unchecked rise, and we can't do this again."
"We stand ready to support your efforts to guide our nation through this unprecedented technological frontier," the signers tell the president.
They want principles and values to inform the nation's approach to AI development "as we work together to make America great and to make our shared world safe."
The open letter was sent to President Trump last week.
