Episode Details

Gatekeepers everywhere. If they’re not “Big Hollywood” trying to fence out Christian creators, they’re natural barriers like lack of resources. Then along comes the siren call of generative AI. It is said these tools can boost creators’ art powers and help them dodge burly guards at the gates! Of course, these programs also generate quite a ruckus. But apart from disputes over job changes and environmental impacts lies one greater question for us fans—can all these cool tools actually help Christian storytellers make amazing new works that change our world?

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1. Yes, if we use gen-AI as tools, not minds.

• Stephen is first to admit some hatred of AI has grown very foolish.
• Undoubtedly these may include absurdist political activisms.
• You may have facts/opinions about data centers and water use.
• And you may want to “beat China,” or else not care about that.
• But some of us at Lorehaven never first relied on those arguments.
• If you marry that “spirit of age,” pro– or anti-AI, you’ll be widowed.
• Instead we asked about the biblical purposes of humans and art.
• So all we say here needs to be the Scriptural steel-man version.
• What if tech lords did make AI cheaper? Built in space? Won big?
• Your support/opposition to any tool should remain the exact same.
• Stephen prefers one guiding idea: use AI as a “tool,” not “mind.”

“…Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain?”

—Arthur Weasley in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling

2. Maybe, with biblical human safeguards.

• In this case, biblical reason supports mastery over tools, not verse.
• This isn’t just about AI or any technology, but universal to creation.
• Mankind can abuse anything as an idol or use it for God’s glory.
• AI is a special case when it is generative, “making” “new” “art.”
• Creators have different opinions on how/whether to use this.
• Stephen does refuse to use generative AI in basically all respects.
• Nothing he writes, at any stage of the process, is AI-generated.
• However, he will use AI programs as tools for research/tutoring.
• These programs excel at gathering/repeating public information.
• When it’s “scraped” from free sources, that seems more ethical.
• Researchers, however, should know to cite primary sources.
• Creators can do that may aim closer for biblically ideal creativity.
• But if creators refuse, and “outsource” their own minds to tools?
• Well, they’ll get lost in the slop and will reach creative dead ends.

3. No, if we rank ourselves over fan interests.

• A few activists seem overly bullish on using AI as substitute-minds.
• They’re the opposite to reflexive (and short-sighted) AI haters.
• Some even call loudly for Christian-made art, quick, easy, good(?).
• This seems a s