“Better than nothing” is one of the more powerful arguments in favor of relying on AI chat bots to digitally simulate human presence and engagement within under-resourced educational, therapeutic, or medical contexts. What is gained and what is lost in this growing reality? This talk argues that a key casualty of such institutional dependence on AI-based technologies is a future where loneliness not only increases, but becomes more stratified. As human presence and interaction becomes increasingly commodified, and as at-risk populations have less access to experiencing the unique resonance of human encounter, faith communities must be prepared to provide ministries of presence and nearness that protect and model the embodiment of human dignity. The lecture with will be livestreamed and recorded. 

of the lecture will begin on July 21, 2025 at 7:00PM EDT