Pastoral Virtues for Artificial Intelligence: Care and the Algorithms that Guide Our Lives

Pastoral Virtues for Artificial Intelligence (AI) acknowledges that human destiny is intimately tied to artificial intelligence. AI already outperforms a person on most tasks. Our ever-deepening relationship with an AI that is increasingly autonomous mirrors our relationship to what is perceived as Sacred or Divine. Like God, AI awakens hope and fear in people, while giving life to some and taking livelihood, especially in the form of jobs, from others. AI, built around values of convenience, productivity, speed, efficiency, and cost reduction, serve humanity poorly, especially in moments that demand care and wisdom. This book explores the pastoral virtues of hope, patience, play, wisdom, and compassion as foundational to personal flourishing, communal thriving, and building a robust AI. Biases of determinism, speed, objectivity, ignorance, and apathy within AI's algorithms are identified. These biases can be minimized through the incorporation of pastoral virtues as values guiding AI.

Author: Jaco J. Hamman
Publisher: Lexington Books
Published: 10/20/2022
Pages: 264
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.23lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.75d
ISBN13: 9781793640451
ISBN10: 1793640459
BISAC Categories:
- Computers | Computer Engineering
- Religion | Christian Theology | General
- Computers | Artificial Intelligence | General

About the Author
Jaco J. Hamman is professor of religion, psychology, and culture and the director of the program in theology and practice at Vanderbilt Divinity School.