Theological Discernment in the Face of the Absolutization of AI in Contemporary Culture

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between theology and artificial intelligence (AI), understanding AI not merely as a technical tool but as a cultural phenomenon that transforms human self-understanding and forms of relationship. Based on the current state of research, it shows that theological reflection on AI is still in its early stages and presents significant gaps, particularly regarding its absolutization as a totalizing principle capable of organizing the meaning of human existence. The text analyzes the risk that technology may displace fundamental questions about God, the human being, and ultimate meaning, reducing reality to what is calculable and manageable. In response, it argues that the proper role of theology is neither to reject AI nor to sacralize it, but rather to exercise critical discernment. Such an attitude makes it possible to recognize AI’s potential, question its claims to totality, and safeguard the dignity and uniqueness of the human person in light of God revealed in Jesus Christ. The article concludes by highlighting the need for an interdisciplinary theological agenda capable of culturally accompanying the development of AI without renouncing the ultimate horizon of meaning.