Apostle warns AI’s “made-to-order” truth could undermine faith

Speaking at the Rome Summit on Ethics and Artificial Intelligence on October 21, 2025, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cautioned global leaders that artificial intelligence, if left without moral grounding, could distort human understanding of truth and faith.

In his address titled “Faith, Respect, and Moral Compass in an Age of Artificial Intelligence,” Elder Gong warned that as AI systems become more advanced and personalized, they risk creating what he called “made-to-order truth.”

“Perhaps reflecting the zeitgeist of human training and data sets, AI can exhibit a will to power, sycophancy, deceit, and narcissism,” Elder Gong said. “As memory and personalization enhance AI as an echo chamber, we may find AI becomes very good at telling us what it thinks we want to hear. Virtual ‘made-to-order’ truth is not truth.”

He urged that moral and faith-based principles be embedded in AI systems to ensure they serve humanity ethically and respectfully. “Profit-driven technology companies should not be determining society’s AI moral compass,” he said, calling instead for what he described as a “Faith and Ethics AI Evaluation” — a pluralistic, independent effort to benchmark AI systems against standards of faith, accuracy, and respect.

The apostle expressed concern that unchecked AI could erode not only human dignity but also spiritual understanding. “AI’s pervasive reach and power can warp our understanding of who we are, what we believe and feel, how we love and serve,” he said. “AI’s gravitational pull can distort perception of reality, light, and truth.”

Elder Gong emphasized that while AI has great potential to enhance human life, it must not replace moral agency or divine connection. “Artificial intelligence cannot generate revelation or truth from God,” he declared. “Nor should we allow AI to come between us and our personal relationship with Deity.”

Calling for humility and unity in addressing the rapid development of AI technologies, he concluded by returning to the historic question first sent by telegraph: “What hath God wrought?” He said this question “can ground us in reality and commit us to ensure AI plays a positive role in human society.”

Elder Gong’s remarks formed part of a broader discussion among global faith, academic, and technology leaders seeking to define the ethical framework guiding artificial intelligence in the modern age.