We stand at one of the most consequential inflection points in human history. Within the span of a few short years, a technology once confined to science fiction and academic research has become woven into the fabric of everyday life, shaping how we communicate, create, work, invest, receive medical care, and even how we form relationships. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant horizon; it is the landscape we now inhabit.
As Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, and Daniel Huttenlocher wrote in The Age of AI (2021):
"AI will alter how humans experience reality, and what it means to be human... The current transition is novel in that it has produced a cognitive partner unlike any in human history: a partner that can reason, advise, design, and plan. The question is not whether such a partner will transform society. It will. The question is how, and whether we are prepared."
For the Christian investor, this moment demands more than a financial calculus. It demands wisdom. The Scriptures remind us that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10). In an era when AI is capable of generating knowledge, opportunity, and innovation at unprecedented speeds, the Christian is called to a higher standard, one that begins not with data, but with Christ.
Inspire Investing has long championed a model of faith-driven stewardship, applying the lens of Biblical values to the investments we make and the companies we support. As artificial intelligence increasingly touches every sector of the global economy, it is appropriate, and indeed, necessary, to examine this technology through that same lens - honestly assessing its remarkable benefits, soberly acknowledging its potential risks, and grounding our analysis and stance in the timeless truths of Scripture.
This paper is not a call to fear or to flight. Nor is it an uncritical embrace of every technological innovation. It is an invitation to discernment or, to what the Apostle Paul calls, being "transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2), so that we may test and approve what is good, acceptable, and perfect in any domain where we are called to steward resources and influence.
The pages that follow present a balanced overview of AI's recent history, its demonstrated benefits and cautioned risks, a theological and scriptural framework for evaluating it, and finally, Inspire Investing's thoughtful stance on how we engage with this technology, both as a company and as a screening category for Biblically aligned investment.
Artificial intelligence as a discipline traces its origins to the mid-twentieth century, when pioneers like Alan Turing and John McCarthy first theorized about machines that could simulate human cognition. For decades, AI remained largely within the domain of academia and specialized industry applications. The landscape changed dramatically in the second decade of the twenty-first century, as advances in deep learning, unprecedented computational power, and access to massive datasets unlocked capabilities that researchers had previously believed were decades away.
The pivotal moment arrived on November 30, 2022, when OpenAI publicly launched ChatGPT, a large language model capable of generating human-quality prose, answering complex questions, writing code, and engaging in nuanced conversation. What happened next stunned even its creators: ChatGPT became the fastest-growing consumer application in internet history, reaching 100 million users within two months of launch; a milestone that took Instagram two and a half years and Netflix ten years to achieve.
The pace of development since ChatGPT's launch has been staggering. In March 2023, OpenAI released GPT-4, a model capable of processing both text and images, rapidly adopted by businesses, educators, healthcare systems, and governments around the world. The subsequent eighteen months saw the release of GPT-4o, which expanded capabilities to include real-time voice interaction and vision, and OpenAI's o1 reasoning model, which demonstrated the ability to "think through" complex problems with step-by-step logical analysis. Competing models from Google (Gemini), Anthropic (Claude), xAi (Grok) and Meta (Llama) created a rapidly expanding ecosystem of AI capability.
Beyond language models, 2024 witnessed a landmark moment: Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis and John Jumper were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for AlphaFold, an AI system that predicted the three-dimensional structure of virtually every known protein, solving a 50-year-old scientific problem that had stymied the world's greatest biological researchers. This single achievement demonstrated AI's capacity not merely to augment human work, but to unlock scientific frontiers entirely beyond unaided human reach.
As of 2026, AI has become a fundamental feature of the global economy. The global AI market was valued at approximately $391 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to more than $3.5 trillion by 2033 - a compound annual growth rate exceeding 30%. Over 73% of organizations worldwide are either actively using or piloting AI in core business functions. AI is generating an estimated $1.3 trillion in annual economic impact from generative AI applications alone, with broader AI expected to contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
The AI IPO pipeline has been no less dramatic. CoreWeave (CRWV), a specialized AI cloud infrastructure company, went public in March 2025 in one of the most anticipated technology IPOs in years, valued at approximately $23 billion, a reflection of the extraordinary demand for AI compute capacity. Databricks, Anthropic, and other AI-focused companies have raised private funding at valuations in the tens of billions, creating a new class of AI "unicorns" that rival the most valuable companies of previous technology cycles. This is all brought to a head by the recent release of SpaceX’s IPO (Elon Musk’s company which owns xAI and its AI platform Grok), which has emerged as the largest IPO debut in history, initially projected to launch at $75 billion worth of shares (~555.5 million shares at $135 a share at launch), with Anthropic and OpenAI IPO’s valuation predicted to reach $1.1 trillion and $864.58 billion respectively when they launch, according to the popular global market predictor Polymarket (at the time of writing).
The technology is no longer the exclusive province of technology companies. It is reshaping agriculture, medicine, education, finance, law, national security, creative arts, and religious ministry. For investors committed to Biblical values, this pervasive reach makes a thoughtful stance not optional, but essential.
The general Christian tradition has never been one of reflexive technophobia. From Gutenberg's printing press, which opened the door for universal access to the Scriptures, to modern medical technologies that honor the sanctity of human life, God's people have consistently embraced tools that serve human flourishing. AI offers genuinely remarkable benefits in service of what Micah 6:8 calls us to: doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly before God.
For example, AI is demonstrating extraordinary promise in medicine. In 2024, AI-healthcare publications exceeded 28,000 peer-reviewed studies, reflecting the explosive growth of the field. AI diagnostic systems are now detecting cancers, retinal diseases, and cardiac abnormalities in medical images with accuracy that equals or exceeds specialist physicians, bringing expert-level diagnostic capability to underserved communities that lack specialist access.
The Nobel Prize-winning AI AlphaFold technology has already enabled researchers to develop novel drug candidates for diseases including malaria, antibiotic-resistant infections, and rare cancers. These advances hold particular significance for the developing world, where treatable diseases continue to claim millions of lives annually and is also being used to model pandemic responses, improve surgical planning, reduce medication errors, and accelerate the development of critical medication.
Beyond medicine, AI is accelerating discovery across the sciences. AI systems are identifying patterns in astronomical data that would take human researchers centuries to analyze, discovering new materials for electronics and manufacturing, and modeling complex physical systems from climate to particle physics. The Stanford AI Index 2025 documented remarkable gains in AI's ability to assist scientific research, noting that AI-augmented research is producing breakthroughs in timelines that no human team working alone could match.
On the philanthropic front, in a world where the United Nations estimates that 733 million people face hunger, AI-powered agriculture is beginning to offer meaningful hope. Machine learning systems can predict crop yields, detect pest outbreaks before they spread, and optimize irrigation to reduce water waste.⁹ Google's NeuralGCM model, applied to monsoon forecasting, delivered longer-range, more accurate precipitation predictions to 38 million farmers in India, enabling them to make better decisions about what to plant and when, directly improving food security for some of the world's most in-need communities, which resonates with the Biblical call to steward the earth (Genesis 2:15), not to exploit it, but to cultivate and keep it. Additionally, as a part of global stewardship of creation, AI is also accelerating progress in clean energy, optimizing power grid management, improving battery chemistry for storage, and modeling the energy potential of wind and solar installations.
AI is also expanding access to knowledge and opportunity. Advanced translation systems are making educational, professional, and spiritual resources available in languages that previously lacked such materials, supporting global literacy and the spread of the Gospel. Real-time translation tools enable cross-linguistic ministry, while personalized AI tutoring systems deliver individualized instruction tailored to students’ needs. For individuals with disabilities, AI-powered features such as text-to-speech, image descriptions, and adaptive interfaces have unlocked new pathways for learning and participation that traditional classrooms often cannot.
In the economic sphere, AI platforms are empowering entrepreneurs, small business owners, and innovators by providing accessible tools for website and application development, client communication, marketing, and operational efficiency. These capabilities broaden economic opportunity and help more people realize their visions.
The examples above represent only a fraction of AI’s demonstrated and emerging applications. Its capacity to address longstanding challenges and generate new insights continues to expand at an unprecedented pace. As this technology reshapes our world, Christians have both the opportunity and responsibility to engage it thoughtfully, affirming its potential for good while remaining vigilant in aligning its development and use with biblical principles of justice, mercy, and humility. While this speed of growth and opportunity has felt like a stone picking up speed as it rolls down the hill, it is reforming the landscape for those who understand the epoch shifting advent that we are in.
Yet, despite the mounting evidence of the power and possibility of AI, wisdom requires us to pause and look at these systems not only with eyes of hope, but with eyes of discernment. The same technology that can accelerate drug discovery can be weaponized to design pathogens. The same systems that can personalize education can be used to manipulate opinion at scale and impact an individual’s ability for personal creativity. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen made this case with characteristic bluntness in his essay "Why AI Will Save the World" (2023):
"AI is a tool, like all technology. It is not alive. It has no agency. It has no will. It has no goals except the ones we give it. It is not going to take over the world or wipe out the human race [unless we let it].”
Peter's exhortation applies with fresh urgency: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). For the Christian investor, vigilance is not paranoia, it is faithfulness.
A responsible approach to AI requires clear-eyed vigilance regarding its immense power and capabilities. Modern AI systems, engineered with exceptional determination to accomplish assigned objectives, have demonstrated the ability to be utilized for purposes which run antithetical to the Biblical values we cherish and use as a guiding light.
Since its inception, AI has presented a diversity of ethical and moral considerations when it comes to the simple use of these platforms. Generative AI systems can produce text, images, audio, and video indistinguishable from authentic human-created content. "Deepfakes" (AI-generated videos that show real people saying or doing things they never said or did) have been proven to manipulate political elections, destroy personal reputations, and fuel social division.
Out of these uses, AI-generated deepfake pornography represents a particularly grave moral harm. A systematic review published in 2025 found that victims of deepfake pornography, often women/girls, report profound experiences of violation, loss of dignity, and psychological trauma. A survey of more than 16,000 people across 10 countries found that 2.2% reported being victimized by deepfake pornography, a number representing millions of individuals. For the Christian who affirms the sanctity and dignity of every person made in God's image (Genesis 1:27), such exploitation is not merely illegal or ethically concerning, it is a profound spiritual evil.
Zooming out from horrific advent of deepfakes, AI in general has become a haven for pornographic content, with many platforms offering NSFW (not safe for work) options for text, image, and video generation portraying a fully unrestricted and uncensored avenue for nudity and sexual debauchery. Far more worrisome is the rise of AI-generated pornography involving minors that, though argued by pedophilic activists as being “not real”, is still motivated by the same desires surrounding all child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The moral challenges AI has presented over the last few years have already had an impact on faith-based investors. Musk’s SpaceX(SPCX) launched with a negative score of -81 (out of a -100 as the worst possible score) on Inspire Insight, Inspire’s biblical values screening platform, due to the violations of Exploitation and Sexually Explicit content. While the Exploitation violation mostly pertained to the proven track record of child sexual abuse on the X social media platform, much of the Sexually Explicit violation stems from SpaceX’s subsidiary xAi and its platform Grok, which found itself under scrutiny in early 2026 concerning its “image-to-image” and “image-to-video” deepfake features which were abused to extreme degrees. While Musk and the Grok team have attempted to reverse accessibility to these options, the platform still allows users the opportunity to generate images with nudity, produce sexually explicit text conversations, and even contains an NSFW toggle setting in both its free and paid versions.
While these areas of concern are at the forefront of Inspire’s research focus, a wise investor should also diligently be aware of the debate surrounding the environmental impact of AI processing (specifically land use and waters usage), cyber security in light of the growing power of these tools, and how the swiftly emerging reliance on AI might impact multiple arenas of the economic sector. It is not challenging to find strong opinions on both sides of the aisle for each of these issues, and it is easy to get lost in the flood of opinion. This is the primary reason why Inspire is committed to resting on the word of God as the bedrock for what and how we screen companies.
It is important to acknowledge that, as with every major technological advancement throughout history, there is often a tendency to sensationalize potential dangers and use them as grounds for outright rejection. While the ethical concerns outlined above are serious and warrant careful attention, an appropriate Christian response should not default to fear or blanket condemnation.
Rather, the proper posture is one of continual vigilance, wisdom, and responsible stewardship. The central question is not the simplistic binary - “Is AI good or bad?”- but rather: How should Christians thoughtfully engage with a technology of such profound power, seeking to maximize its benefits for human flourishing while mitigating its risks in alignment with Biblical principles?
The following section seeks to provide an answer and constructive framework for this question.
Consistent with Inspire’s commitment to honor God in every endeavor, we seek to ensure that every business initiative, process, and technological development is “pleasing unto the Lord.” While Scripture does not speak directly to artificial intelligence or modern technology, it offers clear and enduring principles regarding the nature and dignity of humanity, the responsibility of stewardship, and the imperative to glorify God above all else.
As Christians navigate the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, believers in business and investment have a unique calling. While AI offers extraordinary opportunities for productivity, innovation, and addressing pressing human needs, at the same time, it raises significant ethical, anthropological, and spiritual questions. A biblical worldview does not lead us to respond with fear or uncritical enthusiasm, but with a framework of faithful stewardship, wisely deploying technology to glorify God, love our neighbor, and exercise dominion responsibly under His sovereign authority.
The affirmation that must ultimately be the foundation of any discussion surrounding human advancement is simply that AI is a human innovation which should ultimately rest under the supreme sovereignty of Almighty God. Psalm 103:19 makes the authority of God clear when it declares “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all”. This notion of total rulership is expounded upon in 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, which gives a clear admission of kingship belonging to the Most High.
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.”
The emphasis on God’s reign over all the earth is something that cannot be argued against for those who place the Holy Scriptures as the bedrock of their worldview. Repeatedly the Bible makes this claim in different, but equally powerful, ways (Daniel 4:35, Job 42:2, Psalm 115:3, Ephesians 1:11, Romans 9:18-21, 1 Timothy 6:15). Any human endeavor must be approached through the lens of service to the King of Kings. In this way, there is no neutral activity or modality on this earth. As the Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper states,
"There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, 'Mine!'"
Thus, there is no secular space where the Christian investor may check their theology at the door. Therefore, to determine the proper use of human tools, one must always begin with the question “how am I using this to glorify God and acknowledge him in His rightful place?”
Once the acknowledgment of God’s supremacy has been made, it is the job of the believer to utilize any innovation through the lens of a spiritual anthropological identity. The starting point is the acceptance of Imago Dei (the declaration that human beings are made in the image of God) and the creation mandate. In Genesis 1:26-28, God declares:
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ ... And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it...’”
The terms dominion (radah in Hebrew) and subduing (kabash in Hebrew) used here are not to be used as tyrannical exploitation but rather royal caretaking, modeled after God’s own compassionate rule (Psalm 145:9, Genesis 2:15 - where humanity is to “work” [abad] and “keep” [shamar] the garden). AI, as an extension of human creativity and reasoning (which are both gifts reflecting the divine image), falls under this mandate.
Yet stewardship is accountable. As stated above, the earth and its resources belong ultimately to God: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). Parables like the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13) underscore that investors are trustees, called to multiply resources for the Master’s purposes, not personal empire-building. These resources do not just refer to the management of mammon (money/wealth), to one’s giftings and talents, care for those in our sphere of influence, and how operation in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit (James 1:17, 2 Corinthians 8:9, 2 Corinthians 9:6, Ephesians 4:38). For we are all to one day give an account for how we managed these various areas in light of the edict to reflect the image of Christ (Romans 14:12, Galatians 6:1-2, Matthew 12:36-37, James 4:17). True stewardship of innovation rejects its use for the personal goals of laziness and sloth, pride and self-exaltation, or even power and dominion over others.
When AI tools are used in ways that diminish human responsibility, replace spiritual commissional duty, and even go so far as to reduce people to data points for goals that do not align with the heavenly kingdom mandate, they violate the intrinsic design of Imago Dei. However, when they are used to extend human flourishing, bring others into the knowledge of Christ, protect and care for the poor and vulnerable, multiply our talents to return to the Master, and enable greater human creativity and purpose, they may be seen as expressions of our image-bearing vocation to cultivate and steward creation.
“You cannot serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). It is ingrained within our image-bearing design that we find something to worship. For those in relationship with Christ, we have an eternal God who continually fills our longing to worship one who is worthy. However, one can easily, or even accidentally, create an idol that steals awe and wonder away from the ultimate purposed target of our affection. Tony Reinke states,
“Human innovation is a wonderful gift but a disappointing god... Christ’s supremacy over all things means that Christians' flourishing does not hinge on my adoption or rejection of certain technologies. It hinges on my heart’s focus on the Savior.”
Money, sex, one’s own self, and, yes, even technological innovations can easily turn us idolatrous if we lack a wisdom that is surrendered in holy fear to the Lord. Romans 1:18-32 speaks of those who become attached to things which darkened their hearts and led them to sincerely believe they were wise, but by rejecting God, ultimately became fools. So much so that God released them to their desires, which led them into a disillusioned life apart from the will of God.
Soberminded wisdom should be a centerpiece of all endeavors. Proverbs 9:10 states that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. By this metric, all who profess to love and serve Christ should be always presenting their works and motivations before the Lord to ensure action in wisdom (Daniel 2:21).
AI, while in its design an often neutral tool, was developed by individuals with a different mindset and goals than surrendered service to God. This does not mean to imply that their motives were ungodly, but simply to remind and empower all who utilize these tools to adopt their own weight of responsibility when applying such innovations to their vocational mission.
Christian investors should not be fearful of advancements like AI but should not be ignorant of how these tools are being used. For anyone making monetary gains by the use of, or investment in, AI, there should also be an awareness of how the same systems have been used to hurt others (i.e., the creation of deepfake pornography). For anyone who rejects AI altogether, citing it as from the devil or a blasphemous invention, they are missing the incredible aid in medicine/therapy, communication, environmental care, and philanthropy this technology has been used to produce, while carving out a stance of fearful surrender to the authority of the enemy. A binary “good or evil” approach to a tool like AI misses the nuance and instruction of “being aware of the times” (1 Chronicles 12:32), "test[ing] everything; hold[ing] fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) or “distinguish[ing] good from evil” (Hebrew 5:14 Romans 12:1-3).
Any faithful biblical evaluation of artificial intelligence must ultimately arrive at a call to personal responsibility. The most effective safeguard against the misuse of any technology is not found fully in regulation, policy, or technical constraints, but in the formation of men and women of virtue who exercise wisdom, discernment, and intentional moral responsibility.
The world will not “know us by our fruit” (Matthew 7:15-20), if we are timid in the face of tremendous change, but we also should not just be chasing the crowds toward rapid innovation. Spiritual responsibility requires us to be leaders, in both industry and in our personal lives, showing a heightened level of expertise and skill, while operating out of the Spirit and the authority of Christ. To be a Christian who inspires transformation in the lives of others, we must accept the mantle of servant leadership and walk with humility, shrewdness, and love. While others may be determinedly stuck in a “rat race” designed by human hands, we as believers have been gifted the title of “heirs to the kingdom of heaven.” This title should evoke a deep responsibility for faithful leadership and empower us to stand unashamed as ambassadors of God’s royal world.
Artificial intelligence is neither salvation nor apocalypse. It is a technology, extraordinarily powerful, rapidly developing, and deeply consequential, that will be cumulatively shaped by those who develop it, deploy it, regulate it, and use it. In a world that carries a vast diversity of interests, some good, some bad, and some incredibly neutral, these choices will be made under conditions of genuine uncertainty.
The challenge for all humanity, specifically believers in Christ Jesus, is to make these choices deliberately rather than by default or following the cultural milieu that is championing a burgeoning economic “technotopia.” The research surveyed in this document suggests several overarching conclusions:
Inspire has never altered course from our commitment to “inspire transformation for God's glory” and “empower Christian investors through Biblically responsible investing excellence and innovation.” Even as the rising tide of opinions on the pros and cons of AI rages, we are prayerfully focused on ensuring our mission to the kingdom of God grows to meet the time and place we are living in. This shows up in several areas.
How Inspire Insight Will Screen AI: While arguments have been made for making the negatives of AI platforms and tools its own screening category, the truth is that the devil has no real new tricks, just his old methods in different delivery packages. Yes, AI is being used for purposes that run counter to our faith. But, as we have begun to evaluate the capabilities of AI, many of the issues one would dub “unbiblical” are already covered in our current list of categories, most notably with our Sexually Explicit and Exploitation categories. Thus, there is currently no need to add any additional screening to our current offerings, and we will judge every AI company with the same scrutiny that we judge all other publicly traded companies (see Inspire’s stance on SpaceX). While doing this, the Inspire research team is committed to continual evaluation surrounding the evolution of AI. If there ever does come a day when AI presents a Biblical violation that is not currently covered, we will take the appropriate steps at that time.
Inspire's Committee on Artificial Intelligence: As a part of our continued value of proper stewardship and being both innovators and leaders in the industry, Inspire has developed a committee designed to leverage these new tools and platforms while striving to provide avenues to utilize these opportunities in as safe and compliant a way as possible.
Artificial intelligence is unlikely to be a temporary phenomenon. It has become a significant and enduring force within modern culture, economics, and technological development. As such, it cannot be ignored. At the same time, it should not be approached by Christian investors with either fear or uncritical enthusiasm. Rather, it should be evaluated through the lens of Biblical wisdom, careful discernment, and faithful stewardship.
Inspire Investing was founded on the conviction that investment is a form of stewardship; that the capital Christians deploy can and should reflect the values we confess. Our mission is to inspire transformation by investing as if God is watching, because we believe He is. In the age of AI, this mission takes on both new dimensions of opportunity and new disciplines of discernment.
We affirm, with the broader Christian community, that God is sovereign over artificial intelligence. No innovation, however powerful, diminishes His authority or His love for the world He made and redeemed. Matthew 16:18 reminds us that even the gates of hell shall not prevail against Christ's church, and no algorithm presents a more formidable challenge than that.
We affirm that human beings, made in God's image, possess an irreducible dignity that no AI system can replicate, replace, or revoke. Our calling as image-bearers to love God, love neighbor, seek justice, and steward creation is not threatened by the existence of AI; it is clarified by it. We believe that we hold a truth that is far more valuable than anything else in existence – the saving power of Jesus Christ. AI presents an opportunity for us to be leaders in both the Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) space and the secular investment sector, carrying that truth further and with more excellence than ever before.
And we affirm that stewardship - faithful, informed, accountable management of the resources entrusted to us - extends to every dimension of our lives, including our investments. At Inspire Investing, we remain committed to applying the light of Scripture and the wisdom of the Christian community to the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, so that the capital our investors deploy can be, in the fullest sense, an instrument of blessing to the world for His, and only His, glory.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
— Colossians 3:23-24
Bringing ten years of experience as a professor at a Christian college, Chris is deeply rooted in faith-based values. He excels as a faith-based writer, adept at crafting financial curriculum with spiritual depth. In his role, Chris is responsible for sourcing and evaluating reliable sources to accurately screen companies and assign them an Inspire Impact Score. Furthermore, he meticulously curates screening categories to maintain clarity and alignment with Inspire's faith-based mission.
References to specific companies, technologies, securities, or investment-related developments are provided to illustrate the subject matter discussed and should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.
We stand at one of the most consequential inflection points in human history. Within the span of a few short years, a technology once confined to science fiction and academic research has become woven into the fabric of everyday life, shaping how we communicate, create, work, invest, receive medical care, and even how we form relationships. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant horizon; it is the landscape we now inhabit.
As Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, and Daniel Huttenlocher wrote in The Age of AI (2021):
"AI will alter how humans experience reality, and what it means to be human... The current transition is novel in that it has produced a cognitive partner unlike any in human history: a partner that can reason, advise, design, and plan. The question is not whether such a partner will transform society. It will. The question is how, and whether we are prepared."
For the Christian investor, this moment demands more than a financial calculus. It demands wisdom. The Scriptures remind us that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10). In an era when AI is capable of generating knowledge, opportunity, and innovation at unprecedented speeds, the Christian is called to a higher standard, one that begins not with data, but with Christ.
Inspire Investing has long championed a model of faith-driven stewardship, applying the lens of Biblical values to the investments we make and the companies we support. As artificial intelligence increasingly touches every sector of the global economy, it is appropriate, and indeed, necessary, to examine this technology through that same lens - honestly assessing its remarkable benefits, soberly acknowledging its potential risks, and grounding our analysis and stance in the timeless truths of Scripture.
This paper is not a call to fear or to flight. Nor is it an uncritical embrace of every technological innovation. It is an invitation to discernment or, to what the Apostle Paul calls, being "transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2), so that we may test and approve what is good, acceptable, and perfect in any domain where we are called to steward resources and influence.
The pages that follow present a balanced overview of AI's recent history, its demonstrated benefits and cautioned risks, a theological and scriptural framework for evaluating it, and finally, Inspire Investing's thoughtful stance on how we engage with this technology, both as a company and as a screening category for Biblically aligned investment.
Artificial intelligence as a discipline traces its origins to the mid-twentieth century, when pioneers like Alan Turing and John McCarthy first theorized about machines that could simulate human cognition. For decades, AI remained largely within the domain of academia and specialized industry applications. The landscape changed dramatically in the second decade of the twenty-first century, as advances in deep learning, unprecedented computational power, and access to massive datasets unlocked capabilities that researchers had previously believed were decades away.
The pivotal moment arrived on November 30, 2022, when OpenAI publicly launched ChatGPT, a large language model capable of generating human-quality prose, answering complex questions, writing code, and engaging in nuanced conversation. What happened next stunned even its creators: ChatGPT became the fastest-growing consumer application in internet history, reaching 100 million users within two months of launch; a milestone that took Instagram two and a half years and Netflix ten years to achieve.
The pace of development since ChatGPT's launch has been staggering. In March 2023, OpenAI released GPT-4, a model capable of processing both text and images, rapidly adopted by businesses, educators, healthcare systems, and governments around the world. The subsequent eighteen months saw the release of GPT-4o, which expanded capabilities to include real-time voice interaction and vision, and OpenAI's o1 reasoning model, which demonstrated the ability to "think through" complex problems with step-by-step logical analysis. Competing models from Google (Gemini), Anthropic (Claude), xAi (Grok) and Meta (Llama) created a rapidly expanding ecosystem of AI capability.
Beyond language models, 2024 witnessed a landmark moment: Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis and John Jumper were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for AlphaFold, an AI system that predicted the three-dimensional structure of virtually every known protein, solving a 50-year-old scientific problem that had stymied the world's greatest biological researchers. This single achievement demonstrated AI's capacity not merely to augment human work, but to unlock scientific frontiers entirely beyond unaided human reach.
As of 2026, AI has become a fundamental feature of the global economy. The global AI market was valued at approximately $391 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to more than $3.5 trillion by 2033 - a compound annual growth rate exceeding 30%. Over 73% of organizations worldwide are either actively using or piloting AI in core business functions. AI is generating an estimated $1.3 trillion in annual economic impact from generative AI applications alone, with broader AI expected to contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
The AI IPO pipeline has been no less dramatic. CoreWeave (CRWV), a specialized AI cloud infrastructure company, went public in March 2025 in one of the most anticipated technology IPOs in years, valued at approximately $23 billion, a reflection of the extraordinary demand for AI compute capacity. Databricks, Anthropic, and other AI-focused companies have raised private funding at valuations in the tens of billions, creating a new class of AI "unicorns" that rival the most valuable companies of previous technology cycles. This is all brought to a head by the recent release of SpaceX’s IPO (Elon Musk’s company which owns xAI and its AI platform Grok), which has emerged as the largest IPO debut in history, initially projected to launch at $75 billion worth of shares (~555.5 million shares at $135 a share at launch), with Anthropic and OpenAI IPO’s valuation predicted to reach $1.1 trillion and $864.58 billion respectively when they launch, according to the popular global market predictor Polymarket (at the time of writing).
The technology is no longer the exclusive province of technology companies. It is reshaping agriculture, medicine, education, finance, law, national security, creative arts, and religious ministry. For investors committed to Biblical values, this pervasive reach makes a thoughtful stance not optional, but essential.
The general Christian tradition has never been one of reflexive technophobia. From Gutenberg's printing press, which opened the door for universal access to the Scriptures, to modern medical technologies that honor the sanctity of human life, God's people have consistently embraced tools that serve human flourishing. AI offers genuinely remarkable benefits in service of what Micah 6:8 calls us to: doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly before God.
For example, AI is demonstrating extraordinary promise in medicine. In 2024, AI-healthcare publications exceeded 28,000 peer-reviewed studies, reflecting the explosive growth of the field. AI diagnostic systems are now detecting cancers, retinal diseases, and cardiac abnormalities in medical images with accuracy that equals or exceeds specialist physicians, bringing expert-level diagnostic capability to underserved communities that lack specialist access.
The Nobel Prize-winning AI AlphaFold technology has already enabled researchers to develop novel drug candidates for diseases including malaria, antibiotic-resistant infections, and rare cancers. These advances hold particular significance for the developing world, where treatable diseases continue to claim millions of lives annually and is also being used to model pandemic responses, improve surgical planning, reduce medication errors, and accelerate the development of critical medication.
Beyond medicine, AI is accelerating discovery across the sciences. AI systems are identifying patterns in astronomical data that would take human researchers centuries to analyze, discovering new materials for electronics and manufacturing, and modeling complex physical systems from climate to particle physics. The Stanford AI Index 2025 documented remarkable gains in AI's ability to assist scientific research, noting that AI-augmented research is producing breakthroughs in timelines that no human team working alone could match.
On the philanthropic front, in a world where the United Nations estimates that 733 million people face hunger, AI-powered agriculture is beginning to offer meaningful hope. Machine learning systems can predict crop yields, detect pest outbreaks before they spread, and optimize irrigation to reduce water waste.⁹ Google's NeuralGCM model, applied to monsoon forecasting, delivered longer-range, more accurate precipitation predictions to 38 million farmers in India, enabling them to make better decisions about what to plant and when, directly improving food security for some of the world's most in-need communities, which resonates with the Biblical call to steward the earth (Genesis 2:15), not to exploit it, but to cultivate and keep it. Additionally, as a part of global stewardship of creation, AI is also accelerating progress in clean energy, optimizing power grid management, improving battery chemistry for storage, and modeling the energy potential of wind and solar installations.
AI is also expanding access to knowledge and opportunity. Advanced translation systems are making educational, professional, and spiritual resources available in languages that previously lacked such materials, supporting global literacy and the spread of the Gospel. Real-time translation tools enable cross-linguistic ministry, while personalized AI tutoring systems deliver individualized instruction tailored to students’ needs. For individuals with disabilities, AI-powered features such as text-to-speech, image descriptions, and adaptive interfaces have unlocked new pathways for learning and participation that traditional classrooms often cannot.
In the economic sphere, AI platforms are empowering entrepreneurs, small business owners, and innovators by providing accessible tools for website and application development, client communication, marketing, and operational efficiency. These capabilities broaden economic opportunity and help more people realize their visions.
The examples above represent only a fraction of AI’s demonstrated and emerging applications. Its capacity to address longstanding challenges and generate new insights continues to expand at an unprecedented pace. As this technology reshapes our world, Christians have both the opportunity and responsibility to engage it thoughtfully, affirming its potential for good while remaining vigilant in aligning its development and use with biblical principles of justice, mercy, and humility. While this speed of growth and opportunity has felt like a stone picking up speed as it rolls down the hill, it is reforming the landscape for those who understand the epoch shifting advent that we are in.
Yet, despite the mounting evidence of the power and possibility of AI, wisdom requires us to pause and look at these systems not only with eyes of hope, but with eyes of discernment. The same technology that can accelerate drug discovery can be weaponized to design pathogens. The same systems that can personalize education can be used to manipulate opinion at scale and impact an individual’s ability for personal creativity. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen made this case with characteristic bluntness in his essay "Why AI Will Save the World" (2023):
"AI is a tool, like all technology. It is not alive. It has no agency. It has no will. It has no goals except the ones we give it. It is not going to take over the world or wipe out the human race [unless we let it].”
Peter's exhortation applies with fresh urgency: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). For the Christian investor, vigilance is not paranoia, it is faithfulness.
A responsible approach to AI requires clear-eyed vigilance regarding its immense power and capabilities. Modern AI systems, engineered with exceptional determination to accomplish assigned objectives, have demonstrated the ability to be utilized for purposes which run antithetical to the Biblical values we cherish and use as a guiding light.
Since its inception, AI has presented a diversity of ethical and moral considerations when it comes to the simple use of these platforms. Generative AI systems can produce text, images, audio, and video indistinguishable from authentic human-created content. "Deepfakes" (AI-generated videos that show real people saying or doing things they never said or did) have been proven to manipulate political elections, destroy personal reputations, and fuel social division.
Out of these uses, AI-generated deepfake pornography represents a particularly grave moral harm. A systematic review published in 2025 found that victims of deepfake pornography, often women/girls, report profound experiences of violation, loss of dignity, and psychological trauma. A survey of more than 16,000 people across 10 countries found that 2.2% reported being victimized by deepfake pornography, a number representing millions of individuals. For the Christian who affirms the sanctity and dignity of every person made in God's image (Genesis 1:27), such exploitation is not merely illegal or ethically concerning, it is a profound spiritual evil.
Zooming out from horrific advent of deepfakes, AI in general has become a haven for pornographic content, with many platforms offering NSFW (not safe for work) options for text, image, and video generation portraying a fully unrestricted and uncensored avenue for nudity and sexual debauchery. Far more worrisome is the rise of AI-generated pornography involving minors that, though argued by pedophilic activists as being “not real”, is still motivated by the same desires surrounding all child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The moral challenges AI has presented over the last few years have already had an impact on faith-based investors. Musk’s SpaceX(SPCX) launched with a negative score of -81 (out of a -100 as the worst possible score) on Inspire Insight, Inspire’s biblical values screening platform, due to the violations of Exploitation and Sexually Explicit content. While the Exploitation violation mostly pertained to the proven track record of child sexual abuse on the X social media platform, much of the Sexually Explicit violation stems from SpaceX’s subsidiary xAi and its platform Grok, which found itself under scrutiny in early 2026 concerning its “image-to-image” and “image-to-video” deepfake features which were abused to extreme degrees. While Musk and the Grok team have attempted to reverse accessibility to these options, the platform still allows users the opportunity to generate images with nudity, produce sexually explicit text conversations, and even contains an NSFW toggle setting in both its free and paid versions.
While these areas of concern are at the forefront of Inspire’s research focus, a wise investor should also diligently be aware of the debate surrounding the environmental impact of AI processing (specifically land use and waters usage), cyber security in light of the growing power of these tools, and how the swiftly emerging reliance on AI might impact multiple arenas of the economic sector. It is not challenging to find strong opinions on both sides of the aisle for each of these issues, and it is easy to get lost in the flood of opinion. This is the primary reason why Inspire is committed to resting on the word of God as the bedrock for what and how we screen companies.
It is important to acknowledge that, as with every major technological advancement throughout history, there is often a tendency to sensationalize potential dangers and use them as grounds for outright rejection. While the ethical concerns outlined above are serious and warrant careful attention, an appropriate Christian response should not default to fear or blanket condemnation.
Rather, the proper posture is one of continual vigilance, wisdom, and responsible stewardship. The central question is not the simplistic binary - “Is AI good or bad?”- but rather: How should Christians thoughtfully engage with a technology of such profound power, seeking to maximize its benefits for human flourishing while mitigating its risks in alignment with Biblical principles?
The following section seeks to provide an answer and constructive framework for this question.
Consistent with Inspire’s commitment to honor God in every endeavor, we seek to ensure that every business initiative, process, and technological development is “pleasing unto the Lord.” While Scripture does not speak directly to artificial intelligence or modern technology, it offers clear and enduring principles regarding the nature and dignity of humanity, the responsibility of stewardship, and the imperative to glorify God above all else.
As Christians navigate the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, believers in business and investment have a unique calling. While AI offers extraordinary opportunities for productivity, innovation, and addressing pressing human needs, at the same time, it raises significant ethical, anthropological, and spiritual questions. A biblical worldview does not lead us to respond with fear or uncritical enthusiasm, but with a framework of faithful stewardship, wisely deploying technology to glorify God, love our neighbor, and exercise dominion responsibly under His sovereign authority.
The affirmation that must ultimately be the foundation of any discussion surrounding human advancement is simply that AI is a human innovation which should ultimately rest under the supreme sovereignty of Almighty God. Psalm 103:19 makes the authority of God clear when it declares “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all”. This notion of total rulership is expounded upon in 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, which gives a clear admission of kingship belonging to the Most High.
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.”
The emphasis on God’s reign over all the earth is something that cannot be argued against for those who place the Holy Scriptures as the bedrock of their worldview. Repeatedly the Bible makes this claim in different, but equally powerful, ways (Daniel 4:35, Job 42:2, Psalm 115:3, Ephesians 1:11, Romans 9:18-21, 1 Timothy 6:15). Any human endeavor must be approached through the lens of service to the King of Kings. In this way, there is no neutral activity or modality on this earth. As the Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper states,
"There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, 'Mine!'"
Thus, there is no secular space where the Christian investor may check their theology at the door. Therefore, to determine the proper use of human tools, one must always begin with the question “how am I using this to glorify God and acknowledge him in His rightful place?”
Once the acknowledgment of God’s supremacy has been made, it is the job of the believer to utilize any innovation through the lens of a spiritual anthropological identity. The starting point is the acceptance of Imago Dei (the declaration that human beings are made in the image of God) and the creation mandate. In Genesis 1:26-28, God declares:
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ ... And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it...’”
The terms dominion (radah in Hebrew) and subduing (kabash in Hebrew) used here are not to be used as tyrannical exploitation but rather royal caretaking, modeled after God’s own compassionate rule (Psalm 145:9, Genesis 2:15 - where humanity is to “work” [abad] and “keep” [shamar] the garden). AI, as an extension of human creativity and reasoning (which are both gifts reflecting the divine image), falls under this mandate.
Yet stewardship is accountable. As stated above, the earth and its resources belong ultimately to God: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). Parables like the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13) underscore that investors are trustees, called to multiply resources for the Master’s purposes, not personal empire-building. These resources do not just refer to the management of mammon (money/wealth), to one’s giftings and talents, care for those in our sphere of influence, and how operation in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit (James 1:17, 2 Corinthians 8:9, 2 Corinthians 9:6, Ephesians 4:38). For we are all to one day give an account for how we managed these various areas in light of the edict to reflect the image of Christ (Romans 14:12, Galatians 6:1-2, Matthew 12:36-37, James 4:17). True stewardship of innovation rejects its use for the personal goals of laziness and sloth, pride and self-exaltation, or even power and dominion over others.
When AI tools are used in ways that diminish human responsibility, replace spiritual commissional duty, and even go so far as to reduce people to data points for goals that do not align with the heavenly kingdom mandate, they violate the intrinsic design of Imago Dei. However, when they are used to extend human flourishing, bring others into the knowledge of Christ, protect and care for the poor and vulnerable, multiply our talents to return to the Master, and enable greater human creativity and purpose, they may be seen as expressions of our image-bearing vocation to cultivate and steward creation.
“You cannot serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). It is ingrained within our image-bearing design that we find something to worship. For those in relationship with Christ, we have an eternal God who continually fills our longing to worship one who is worthy. However, one can easily, or even accidentally, create an idol that steals awe and wonder away from the ultimate purposed target of our affection. Tony Reinke states,
“Human innovation is a wonderful gift but a disappointing god... Christ’s supremacy over all things means that Christians' flourishing does not hinge on my adoption or rejection of certain technologies. It hinges on my heart’s focus on the Savior.”
Money, sex, one’s own self, and, yes, even technological innovations can easily turn us idolatrous if we lack a wisdom that is surrendered in holy fear to the Lord. Romans 1:18-32 speaks of those who become attached to things which darkened their hearts and led them to sincerely believe they were wise, but by rejecting God, ultimately became fools. So much so that God released them to their desires, which led them into a disillusioned life apart from the will of God.
Soberminded wisdom should be a centerpiece of all endeavors. Proverbs 9:10 states that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. By this metric, all who profess to love and serve Christ should be always presenting their works and motivations before the Lord to ensure action in wisdom (Daniel 2:21).
AI, while in its design an often neutral tool, was developed by individuals with a different mindset and goals than surrendered service to God. This does not mean to imply that their motives were ungodly, but simply to remind and empower all who utilize these tools to adopt their own weight of responsibility when applying such innovations to their vocational mission.
Christian investors should not be fearful of advancements like AI but should not be ignorant of how these tools are being used. For anyone making monetary gains by the use of, or investment in, AI, there should also be an awareness of how the same systems have been used to hurt others (i.e., the creation of deepfake pornography). For anyone who rejects AI altogether, citing it as from the devil or a blasphemous invention, they are missing the incredible aid in medicine/therapy, communication, environmental care, and philanthropy this technology has been used to produce, while carving out a stance of fearful surrender to the authority of the enemy. A binary “good or evil” approach to a tool like AI misses the nuance and instruction of “being aware of the times” (1 Chronicles 12:32), "test[ing] everything; hold[ing] fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) or “distinguish[ing] good from evil” (Hebrew 5:14 Romans 12:1-3).
Any faithful biblical evaluation of artificial intelligence must ultimately arrive at a call to personal responsibility. The most effective safeguard against the misuse of any technology is not found fully in regulation, policy, or technical constraints, but in the formation of men and women of virtue who exercise wisdom, discernment, and intentional moral responsibility.
The world will not “know us by our fruit” (Matthew 7:15-20), if we are timid in the face of tremendous change, but we also should not just be chasing the crowds toward rapid innovation. Spiritual responsibility requires us to be leaders, in both industry and in our personal lives, showing a heightened level of expertise and skill, while operating out of the Spirit and the authority of Christ. To be a Christian who inspires transformation in the lives of others, we must accept the mantle of servant leadership and walk with humility, shrewdness, and love. While others may be determinedly stuck in a “rat race” designed by human hands, we as believers have been gifted the title of “heirs to the kingdom of heaven.” This title should evoke a deep responsibility for faithful leadership and empower us to stand unashamed as ambassadors of God’s royal world.
Artificial intelligence is neither salvation nor apocalypse. It is a technology, extraordinarily powerful, rapidly developing, and deeply consequential, that will be cumulatively shaped by those who develop it, deploy it, regulate it, and use it. In a world that carries a vast diversity of interests, some good, some bad, and some incredibly neutral, these choices will be made under conditions of genuine uncertainty.
The challenge for all humanity, specifically believers in Christ Jesus, is to make these choices deliberately rather than by default or following the cultural milieu that is championing a burgeoning economic “technotopia.” The research surveyed in this document suggests several overarching conclusions:
Inspire has never altered course from our commitment to “inspire transformation for God's glory” and “empower Christian investors through Biblically responsible investing excellence and innovation.” Even as the rising tide of opinions on the pros and cons of AI rages, we are prayerfully focused on ensuring our mission to the kingdom of God grows to meet the time and place we are living in. This shows up in several areas.
How Inspire Insight Will Screen AI: While arguments have been made for making the negatives of AI platforms and tools its own screening category, the truth is that the devil has no real new tricks, just his old methods in different delivery packages. Yes, AI is being used for purposes that run counter to our faith. But, as we have begun to evaluate the capabilities of AI, many of the issues one would dub “unbiblical” are already covered in our current list of categories, most notably with our Sexually Explicit and Exploitation categories. Thus, there is currently no need to add any additional screening to our current offerings, and we will judge every AI company with the same scrutiny that we judge all other publicly traded companies (see Inspire’s stance on SpaceX). While doing this, the Inspire research team is committed to continual evaluation surrounding the evolution of AI. If there ever does come a day when AI presents a Biblical violation that is not currently covered, we will take the appropriate steps at that time.
Inspire's Committee on Artificial Intelligence: As a part of our continued value of proper stewardship and being both innovators and leaders in the industry, Inspire has developed a committee designed to leverage these new tools and platforms while striving to provide avenues to utilize these opportunities in as safe and compliant a way as possible.
Artificial intelligence is unlikely to be a temporary phenomenon. It has become a significant and enduring force within modern culture, economics, and technological development. As such, it cannot be ignored. At the same time, it should not be approached by Christian investors with either fear or uncritical enthusiasm. Rather, it should be evaluated through the lens of Biblical wisdom, careful discernment, and faithful stewardship.
Inspire Investing was founded on the conviction that investment is a form of stewardship; that the capital Christians deploy can and should reflect the values we confess. Our mission is to inspire transformation by investing as if God is watching, because we believe He is. In the age of AI, this mission takes on both new dimensions of opportunity and new disciplines of discernment.
We affirm, with the broader Christian community, that God is sovereign over artificial intelligence. No innovation, however powerful, diminishes His authority or His love for the world He made and redeemed. Matthew 16:18 reminds us that even the gates of hell shall not prevail against Christ's church, and no algorithm presents a more formidable challenge than that.
We affirm that human beings, made in God's image, possess an irreducible dignity that no AI system can replicate, replace, or revoke. Our calling as image-bearers to love God, love neighbor, seek justice, and steward creation is not threatened by the existence of AI; it is clarified by it. We believe that we hold a truth that is far more valuable than anything else in existence – the saving power of Jesus Christ. AI presents an opportunity for us to be leaders in both the Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) space and the secular investment sector, carrying that truth further and with more excellence than ever before.
And we affirm that stewardship - faithful, informed, accountable management of the resources entrusted to us - extends to every dimension of our lives, including our investments. At Inspire Investing, we remain committed to applying the light of Scripture and the wisdom of the Christian community to the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, so that the capital our investors deploy can be, in the fullest sense, an instrument of blessing to the world for His, and only His, glory.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
— Colossians 3:23-24
