Throughout human history, transformative technologies have been met with a blend of awe, excitement, and fear. From the invention of the printing press to the Industrial Revolution, from the telephone to the internet, sceptics have long voiced concerns that innovation runs contrary to divine will or threatens the moral and social order. Today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) finds itself at a similar crossroads—hailed as the most transformative force of our era, yet burdened by the suspicions of conspiracy theorists and those fearful of change and the unknown.
The idea that AI is inherently “anti-God” or a harbinger of doom is not only misinformed, but also dismissive of the profound good AI is already achieving across the globe. As someone who has studied AI at postgraduate level at the University of Oxford—a leading institution globally in AI research and education—I argue that AI, far from opposing God’s plan for humanity, is a continuation of human ingenuity. It is a divine gift for stewardship, healing, development, productivity, and progress. Like all tools, its morality lies not in the technology itself, but in the intentions and actions of those who wield it.
Central to many religious traditions, especially the Abrahamic faiths, is the belief that human beings are created in the image of God, endowed with the ability to think, create, build, and steward the Earth. In the book of Genesis, man is instructed to “fill the Earth and subdue it, and have dominion over every living thing.” This dominion is not a licence to exploit, but rather a sacred trust to develop and govern creation responsibly.
Viewed through this lens, AI becomes a fulfilment of this creative mandate. It is a modern extension of our God-given capacities—like the plough, the microscope, the aeroplane, or the satellite—enabling us to interpret and manage the world more effectively. To reject AI on the grounds that it is “unnatural” or “godless” is to deny the divine in our own capacity for reason, invention, and compassion.
In real-world terms, few fields have seen a more significant AI impact than healthcare. AI systems are now accelerating drug discovery, compressing timelines from decades to mere months. AlphaFold, an AI developed by DeepMind (a subsidiary of Google), has predicted the 3D structures of over 200 million proteins—an immense breakthrough in protein folding, now being used to fight diseases from cancer to Alzheimer’s. AI tools today diagnose cancers earlier and with greater precision, develop personalised treatment plans, and identify potential cures for rare or previously incurable diseases.
Would any sceptic facing a terminal illness, such as pancreatic cancer, refuse an AI-discovered drug that could save their life? Would a parent, watching a child suffer from sickle cell anaemia, reject a cure simply because it was generated by an algorithm? These are not theoretical questions. AI-based solutions are already saving lives in Nigeria, across Africa, and around the world. To reject such progress out of fear is not prudent—it is perilous ignorance.
AI is also becoming indispensable in the global fight against climate change. It helps governments and scientists model carbon emissions, predict extreme weather, optimise energy usage, and design smarter, more efficient cities. AI-driven agricultural innovations allow farmers to forecast crop yields, conserve water, and protect biodiversity. These actions are not at odds with the divine mandate to “care for the Earth”—they are in direct service of it.
In education, AI has shattered long-standing barriers. Adaptive learning platforms tailor content to a student’s learning pace and style. Tools such as ChatGPT and other large language models provide students—whether in Lagos, Johannesburg, or London—with access to quality explanations, mentorship, and tutoring, regardless of economic background. In regions hampered by infrastructure challenges or a lack of qualified teachers, AI is closing gaps and opening doors to a more empowered, educated future. What could be more aligned with the divine call to “let light shine out of darkness” than helping humanity to learn, grow, and flourish?
AI is helping to solve food insecurity, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Precision farming, enabled by AI, maximises crop yields while minimising environmental impact. Farmers are now using platforms to predict rainfall, detect crop diseases, and access real-time market prices. This is not a replacement for divine providence but a magnification of it—technology working hand-in-hand with human diligence to feed the world.
For people living with disabilities, AI is ushering in a new era of dignity and independence. From AI-powered prosthetics and speech recognition to brain-computer interfaces, lives are being transformed. Is it unholy to help a paralysed man walk again or enable a blind child to navigate their school independently using AI tools? If anything, this is the very definition of compassion, realised through intelligence divinely bestowed.
Naturally, AI is not infallible. But neither are we. Like any powerful tool, AI can be misused. Yet that does not define its essence or purpose. After all, the tragic use of aeroplanes on 11 September 2001 did not result in the banning of air travel. Nor did the internet’s role in spreading misinformation cause its rejection. Aeroplanes have united families, enabled trade, and supported rescue missions. The internet has democratised education, enabled remote work, and connected the world. All transformative technologies have had their critics, their risks, and their doubters.
The wise response is not to banish the tool, but to regulate and guide its use—with ethics, legislation, education, and human conscience. In AI, this principle is known as “Human-In-The-Loop.” Today, governments, institutions, and AI communities around the globe are embracing this responsibility, striving for ethical AI that reflects our shared values and safeguards humanity.
Much of the fear surrounding AI is not about the technology itself, but about change. Conspiracy theorists often project their fears about control, power, and uncertainty onto new tools. These anxieties are amplified by misinformation, lack of education, and fictional depictions. Some go so far as to call AI the “mark of the beast,” a new Tower of Babel, or an attempt to “play God.” But similar fears were expressed about electricity, vaccines, and even the television. We must see these reactions for what they are—echoes of deep-rooted ignorance repackaged for the present day.
The future does not belong to fear. It belongs to faith—faith in reason, creativity, human agency, divine providence, and our ability to shape a better world. Left to such sceptics, humanity might still be living in caves, hunting in the wild. Progress would have halted centuries ago.
The key lies in how we choose to use AI. The morality of AI, like any tool, is determined by the values we embed in its development and deployment. This is a collective duty—of governments, businesses, civil societies, and citizens. Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2024–2025), for instance, is grounded in seven ethical principles, including fairness, transparency, accountability, and inclusion. These principles are not godless; they are profoundly aligned with the values of all major faiths: justice, compassion, stewardship, and humility.
Faith and technology are not opposites. God has always worked through human tools. Moses had his staff. David had a sling. Jesus used parables. Paul’s letters were spread using Roman roads. If God used the tools of the time to reach humanity, why shouldn’t we use today’s tools—like AI—to bring healing, justice, and education to more people?
Technology is not a challenge to faith. It is the embodiment of faith’s mission to transform, uplift, and redeem the world. In conclusion, let us ask the sceptics: if you or your loved one were diagnosed with a deadly illness, and the only hope was an AI-generated treatment, would you reject it?
If AI can prevent famine, save infants, warn of disasters, or bring education to a refugee child, why wouldn’t we embrace it? AI is not the enemy of God’s plan. It is like fire, language, or steel—it can build or destroy. The difference is in how we choose to use it.
Let us choose to wield it with wisdom, ethics, faith, and compassion. For in doing so, we are not straying from God’s plan. We are fulfilling it.
Written by Sonny Iroche is the CEO of GenAI Learning Concepts Ltd., a pioneer in AI consulting and capacity-building in Nigeria. He serves on UNESCO’s Technical Working Group on AI Readiness Assessment Methodology and is a member of the National AI Strategy Committee of Nigeria. A former Senior Academic Fellow at the University of Oxford, he holds a Postgraduate Degree in Artificial Intelligence from the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK.
