I needed to start a new thread. My AI tool was starting to hallucinate, and what I got back for the project I was working on was complete junk. I used to think the more I used AI, the better it would get. That's only half true. The more you train these tools, the more helpful they become. Used carelessly, they just amplify your frustration.
Technology isn't a silver bullet. It's an accelerator, and it'll launch you toward success or toward doom depending on how you use it. I'm not an AI expert. I'm a practitioner who's fascinated by this technology and willing to figure out how it applies to those of us in ministry.
While I think it's important to "get in there" and start tinkering around, here are a few things I've learned about maximizing and utilizing this tool well:
Why do you want to use the technology? Are you bought into a trend, pressured by others, or genuinely curious? Whatever the reason, know why the tool matters. Ask yourself: How will this impact my productivity? How does it affect the people I serve? Does it help the mission, or is it a distraction?
These aren't questions you should answer alone. Bounce them off colleagues, peers, and experts in the field. You don't need to collaborate, just share your questions and concerns. Find someone to help you process what you use and how you use it.
If you're not sure where to find those people, join our Discord Channel, where we talk about all things ministry, including technology - JOIN THE CHANNEL
When the news about Open Claw dropped back in the winter, I bought a Mac mini and dove into a rabbit hole. I learned a lot about automation and how to maximize my AI usage, but I also started getting headaches and my mood soured. I was obsessed with this new system and had no guardrails around it.
After sitting down with a colleague who builds AI tools, I created guardrails that kept me from wasting time and spending too much money. Technology can make you more productive, and it can also make things harder than you can handle if you let it run unchecked.
Before you subscribe, sign up, or purchase a new piece of tech, ask yourself: What am I able to spend on this? That's not just financial. You need to know the time and energy it'll cost too.
In addition to creating rules for yourself, work with others so there's accountability. People who can say, "Maybe we should slow down." Maybe that's a volunteer in the parish or a coworker, someone who can ask, "How's it going?"
What we know about technology changes by the minute. Keeping up can feel overwhelming, but instead of worrying about being an expert, stay curious. Watching videos, reading articles, and following experts in the field fuels the curiosity, but give yourself a sandbox to actually test things out too.
I spend a few minutes each week experimenting with technologies that interest me, sometimes finding a use for them in my day-to-day work, sometimes not. Either way, it's worth having fun trying something new.
That sandbox is how I got into blogging, how I got efficient with parish database systems, and how I figured out livestreaming. I've tested different social media platforms too, only to realize how much I don't enjoy using them, which is why I have a team that handles it now.
Staying curious lets me overcome the fear I have around something new. That mindset isn't just essential for tech. It matters for every part of leadership.
Technology will help me overcome some of my weaknesses as a leader, but it'll expose them too. If I'm not working on habits like communication, listening, and collaboration, tech won't bail me out.
Your formation as a leader is what helps you discern well, build the right guardrails, and stay curious. You don't have to be proficient in coding to use these tools. You need to be grounded in the right values, morals, and skills. Invest in your own development, because the tool is only ever as good as the leader using it.
Technology is a gift when used wisely, and it can advance the mission of the Church. The Church can't afford to ignore this conversation. It needs to speak into it more, not less.
Want to leave more than a comment? Join the conversation over at Discord HERE