“AI is not a tool but an agent. A tool is used by a human, but an agent can learn and change by itself, and make decisions by itself.” – Yuval Noah Harari

The World Economic Forum is currently meeting in Davos, Switzerland. WEF is an unelected body of world leaders, elites and billionaires who meet to discuss the future of mankind.

Harari informed them on 20 January 2026 as to what the future will look like with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Harari’s vision of AI raises profound challenges that Christians must address biblically.

While watching, keep in mind that Harari reasons and talks within the vacuum that there is no Almighty God, Creator of all things, who is on the way with His creation to His end destination. And because of this vacuum, Harari tends to overestimate the future of technology, making judgment errors. That said, it is important that we as Christians understand the context within which the world lives and operates.

Listen to this article:

Important moments and questions from his speech are:

  • “AI can lie and manipulate”. (2:26)
  • “AI agents can acquire the will to survive and that AIs have already learned how to lie”. (2:48)
  • “Everything made by words will be taken over by AI”. (5:23)
  • “If religion is built from words, then AI will take over religion…”. (5:45) [note: if you only work with the Bible on a Bible app, it’s maybe time to get a printed Bible.]
  • “This is particularly true of religions based on books like Islam, Christianity or Judaism.” (5:53)
  • “Will your country recognise the AI immigrants (agents) as legal persons?” (14:12)
  • “AI can therefore function as a person; do we want to allow that?” (16:10)
  • “Suppose some AI persons create a new religion which gains the faith of millions of people. That should not sound too far-fetched because after all, almost all previous religions in history have claimed that they were created by a nonhuman intelligence. Now, will your country extend freedom of religion to the new AI sect?” (17:29)

Building on these predictions, Harari formulated existential questions to world leaders and the world’s elite to consider with regard to AI. In a country like South Africa, where 80% of our population identifies as Christian, we dare not leave these far-reaching questions to the government to answer alone.

As Christians, we must respond thoughtfully and decisively.

Please read “Artificial Intelligence and the future of the pastor” as a point of departure in considering how we should respond to these issues. More specifically:

  • With regard to the comment that AI will take over religion if religion is built from words, refer to point 3: “Knowing God, and AI”.
  • The unique role of pastors (or preachers or testimonies for that matter), refer to point 6 “AI generated sermons”.
  • Questions as to the future of AI agents, refer to point 7.2: “The principle is to critically consider technology”.
  • Regarding what God’s agenda is for man, refer to point 8: “Man is created in God’s image while continuously being transformed into God’s image.”

In conclusion

Some people who believe in the rapture before the great tribulation, might brush this off as something that will not impact them, because they believe they will be taken away. But what if this eschatological (end times) view is not correct? Would the Church then be adequately prepared?

At Auckland Park Theological Seminary we have for years studied the eschatological pronouncements in the Bible. If you want to learn more and be in a better position to reflect on, and respond to Harari’s questions, you can read:

As we see this potential danger approaching, let’s keep on praying and joyfully working for a Holy Spirit revival in South Africa. We know that the Lord’s words to Zechariah and Nehemiah, are also true for us today: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” And “The joy of the Lord is our strength.“