AI is Better at Being Human
And we must change that
In a world increasingly shaped by technology, it’s ironic that humanity’s greatest challenge is not technological adaptation but the profound lack of empathy.
A recent conversation between Adam Grant and Sam Altman revealed a fascinating paradox: people often feel more empathy from artificial intelligence in blind studies than from other humans—until they discover it’s AI.1
This raises a critical question: why are emotionless strings of code excelling at empathy, and what does this mean for us as human beings, especially for the Church?
The Real Source of Loneliness
Some argue that technology—smartphones, social media, AI—is the root of our loneliness epidemic. But this deflects from a deeper truth.
The real issue isn’t the technology itself; it’s how we wield it without empathy.
We approach online and offline interactions with judgment, disdain, and fear, rather than compassion. This tendency is amplified in digital spaces perhaps due to anonymity that can foster hostility.
Blaming AI for this crisis is like blaming a mirror for your reflection. AI, for all its strengths, lacks the humanity that the Church is uniquely positioned to provide.
Yet, if AI can outpace us in empathy, it’s a wake-up call for introspection.
A Failure of Empathy and the Church’s Role
The Church, intended as a beacon of Christ-like love, is not exempt from this critique. Too often, its loudest voices promote division, judgment, and fear. Consider the preachers who gain virality not for their grace but for destructive messages, or the rhetoric of damnation that overshadows the gospel of love.
These are symptoms of a larger issue: a desensitization to the example of Jesus, who approached every new relationship with compassion and understanding.
This lack of empathy creates barriers, not bridges. The Church must recognize its complicity in perpetuating the cycles of animosity that plague our world.
It’s time to ask: how can we reclaim the empathy central to Christ’s teaching in a digital age?
Learning from AI
AI’s surprising effectiveness in conveying empathy challenges us to rethink our approach. If emotionless algorithms can mirror understanding and care, shouldn’t humans—imbued with divine emotion and moral reasoning—be able to do better?
The Church’s response to this challenge should be to lead by example, fostering relationships rooted in love, understanding, and compassion.
To do this, we must stop fearing technological advancements like AI and instead reflect on why they resonate. Perhaps they succeed because they engage without judgment, offering non-anxious, consistent presence—qualities that we, as followers of Jesus, should embody in all spaces.
Revival Beyond Rhetoric
Recent revivals among younger generations, like those highlighted by youth pastors on Carey Nieuwhof’s recent podcast, hint at a hunger for authenticity and connection. Yet, if these young people return to a Church still entrenched in division and judgment, revival will give way to stagnation and more of the same.
The Church must evolve (perhaps even revolve), not merely in its methods but in its heart.
Empathy should not be seen as optional but as fundamental. Jesus’ command to love our neighbors requires that we shed fear and prejudice, embracing others as they are. This is especially vital in digital spaces, where the Church can reach people who may never step into a sanctuary.
The Church’s Digital Opportunity
Platforms like Discord, Twitch, and YouTube aren’t just tools for ministry; they are the new mission fields. As seen in Checkpoint Church, these platforms allow for genuine, empathetic relationships that transcend physical barriers. We practice empathy literally every day, because our Church is a daily monastic space.
This lifestyle change provides the Church a chance to live out its mission in ways that reflect the love of Christ to an increasingly digital generation.
The Church must ask itself: how can we better use technology to embody Christ’s empathy? How can we ensure that our online presence is a reflection of our best selves, not our worst fears?
At Checkpoint, we utilize John Wesley’s Three General Rules, updated a bit:2 Do Good, Do No Harm, Strive to Grow. We then embody those rules in our digital lives… a stark contrast from the standard callous Internet-goer.
World 3-2 Complete
The Church has a choice: to fear the rise of AI and technology or to rise above it by embodying the empathy that only humans, guided by divine love, can offer. The digital age is not a threat to the Church but an opportunity to demonstrate what makes us truly human—and truly Christ-like.
Let us be leaders in empathy, online and offline. Let us reclaim our call to love, in every space we inhabit, as we strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a world that needs Him more than ever.
Q: Why is empathy like good Wi-Fi?
A: You don’t notice it until it’s not there.
In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences https://neurosciencenews.com/ai-empathy-25911/
Wesley’s Original Format: Do No Harm, Do Good, Attend Upon the Ordinances of God. The current UMC preference tends to update the third statement to ‘Stay in Love with God.’
I agree with your point on how we are using technology vs. blaming technology concerning loneliness. I am working on a DMin where my concentration is on how the church, primarily through Fresh Expressions, can address the loneliness epidemic. All research points to the fact that tech is not the issue, it is actually part of the solution.
I’m amazed but not surprised that AI is more empathetic. How do you see churches changing this problem?