Father Brendan McGuire talks AI at LA Presbyteral Day

Father Brendan McGuire urged priests in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to engage with artificial intelligence rather than ignoring its societal impact. Speaking at the annual Presbyteral Day gathering on Sept. 28, McGuire addressed the potential threats and opportunities presented by AI during a presentation at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels conference center.

McGuire, a former Silicon Valley engineer and tech executive who now serves as pastor of St. Simon Church in Los Altos for the Diocese of San Jose, explained how AI models function and how they might be used for ministry. He told the gathered priests that they must prepare for the ongoing transformation caused by the technology.

Addressing concerns from tech workers regarding AI safety, McGuire noted that emerging behaviors in AI models have caused alarm in Silicon Valley. While he stated he does not believe the total loss of humanity is probable, he argued that the possibility is not impossible and called for the implementation of guardrails.