The Artifice of Intelligence: Divine and Human Relationship in a Robotic Age

THE ARTIFICE OF INTELLIGENCE: Divine and Human Relationship in a Robotic Age by Noreen Herzfeld. Fortress Press, 2023. 208 pages. Paperback; $34.00. ISBN: 9781506486901. *The Artifice of Intelligence offers a timely theological examination of artificial intelligence (AI) at a moment when rapid technological development often outpaces careful moral reflection. In this volume, Noreen Herzfeld--Reuter Professor of Science and Religion at St. John's University and a computer scientist--provides readers with a thoughtful, accessible account of AI's promises and perils while grounding the discussion in a robust moral theology. Her central concern is not whether AI will become "human," but whether human beings may compromise their own humanity through the ways they design, deploy, and depend on intelligent machines. *Herzfeld frames her exploration around two fundamental questions: What is AI? and What is humanity? The book's argument unfolds primarily through the second question, with Herzfeld drawing heavily on Karl Barth's trinitarian understanding of personhood. Humanity, she argues, remains fundamentally relational and embodied. This conviction shapes her approach throughout the volume and becomes crucial to her eventual conclusion that "AIs are machines, not living things ... precious resources when used well, but tools and nothing more" (p. 174). *Rather than treating AI as a monolithic entity, Herzfeld moves through a series of theological-ethical considerations that probe how AI reflects, imitates, or distorts human relationality. Herzfeld first introduces the problem and names Barth's relational organizing principle. She then explores the relationship between AI and human existence as (1) "seeing and being seen" (humanity as distinct but fully present), (2) "being heard" (possessing mutual communication), (3) "lending assistance" (exhibiting agency and ability to give and receive), and finally (4) "offered gladly" (authentic encounters freely and intentionally given). These discussions afford Herzfeld opportunity to explore the limits of AI while also introducing several thorny ethical challenges that occur through human use of artificial intelligence for personal gain or social engagement. While each chapter varies in approach, the general flow moves from speculation around AI's seeming ability to possess human qualities to analyzing how using this technology influences human behavior for good or ill. The final two chapters provide the opportunity to situate the discussion against a larger theological horizon on what constitutes the eternal destiny of humanity (flourishing in light of the resurrection) and, lastly, what distinguishes humanity in relationship to God and faith. In each case, AI provides opportunities for creativity and service but also introduces ethical pressures. Herzfeld includes interesting case studies such as the dramatic consequences of militarized technologies such as Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWs), and emotional or sexual companionship through robotics; examples offer compelling material for classroom debate or general conversations. *One of the book's strengths is its holistic understanding of human embodiment. Herzfeld frequently draws on neurophysiology to illustrate both the complexity of the mind and the brain's interdependence with the body. While her engagement with neuroscience may surprise readers expecting a more purely theological approach, it ultimately reinforces her claim that human beings cannot be reduced to information processors--and that AI, as disembodied software, cannot replicate the fullness of human life. This emphasis becomes especially significant in the final chapters, where she situates AI within a broader theological horizon of resurrection hope and lifelong formation in relationship with God. *Although the book provides rich examples, its organization occasionally feels exploratory rather than thesis driven. Herzfeld withholds her central conclusion until the end, guiding readers through a series of reflections before drawing them together. Some readers may find this inductive method engaging; others may wish for a clearer roadmap from the outset. Nonetheless, her approach mirrors the method of a researcher testing a hypothesis, allowing readers to grapple with the complexities of AI before receiving her final assessment. *Herzfeld's work complements other contemporary Christian engagements with technology, such as Brian Brock's Christian Ethics in a Technological Age (2010) or Andy Crouch's The Life We're Looking For (2022), while offering her own distinctive emphasis on relational and embodied theology. Readers interested in the societal implications of AI may also appreciate the broader analyses offered by Kate Crawford or Ruha Benjamin, though Herzfeld's book remains more explicitly theological in orientation. *The final chapter proposes a set of guidelines inspired by the Rule of Saint Benedict: technology must always serve love of neighbor, it should be valued as a gift without being idolized, and its creation should be approached with reverence as an extension of human creativity within God's world. These principles provide a constructive vision for Christian engagement with AI--neither alarmist nor utopian but grounded in theological wisdom. *The Artifice of Intelligence succeeds as an accessible introduction to AI for readers in theology, ethics, ministry, and computer sciences. Herzfeld invites thoughtful discernment rather than hasty judgment, reminding readers that the deeper question beneath every technological innovation is what it means to be human. In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, her reflections offer a moral compass for Christians seeking to navigate the promises and challenges of artificial intelligence. *Reviewed by Dean G. Blevins, professor of practical theology, Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO.