Archbishop Elpidophoros on AI: ‘It may compose the words of prayer, but it cannot pray’

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America addressed the challenges posed by artificial intelligence during the annual Convocation of Hellenic College Holy Cross (HCHC), stressing that technology cannot replace the unique nature of human personhood.

The HCHC community gathered at the Maliotis Cultural Center on September 13 to mark the beginning of the new academic year, with addresses focusing on knowledge, wisdom, education and the spiritual formation of students.

In his archpastoral address, Archbishop Elpidophoros welcomed the largest incoming class in the history of the School and emphasized that the purpose of education goes beyond the transmission of information and involves the formation of the human person.

Turning to the rapid development of AI, the Archbishop said the appropriate response should be neither fear nor fascination.

“The Church must continue to remind the world that not everything can be calculated, and that not everything that sounds intelligent possesses wisdom,” he said.

“You are the image of God,” Archbishop Elpidophoros told the students. “No machine possesses the mystery of human personhood.”

He encouraged students to make use of emerging…