In today’s interview, Jonathon Fessenden of Missio Dei speaks with Catholic author Christopher Reilly, Th.D., to explore a pressing and often misunderstood question: Is artificial intelligence pro-life? While many people now ask AI systems themselves to weigh in on moral issues, this approach misunderstands what AI actually is. AI can mirror patterns, assumptions, and cultural biases—but it cannot bear moral witness or possess love for human life. The discussion moves beyond the idea that AI is merely a neutral tool. Reilly explains that AI shapes how people think, reason, and make decisions—especially in a culture already inclined to reduce reality to efficiency and utility. This raises serious concerns for a pro-life worldview, which depends on the recognition of the intrinsic dignity of every human person, regardless of age, ability, or usefulness. A key part of the conversation addresses anthropomorphism—the human tendency to treat non-human objects as if they were real persons. As AI systems speak in human-like language and appear responsive or empathetic, many people begin to attribute understanding, intention, or even moral authority to machines. This confusion can dull moral instincts, leading people to trust artificial systems more than human wisdom or conscience. While AI can be employed in limited ways that appear to support life—such as assisting pregnancy centers or improving medical imaging of unborn children—the broader cultural trajectory is troubling. AI is increasingly used to facilitate abortion, expand embryo screening and genetic selection, and normalize a technological mindset that treats human life as a problem to be managed rather than a gift to be received. At the heart of the conversation is a deeper question: Will the spread of AI strengthen or weaken our understanding of what it means to be human? As machines are increasingly treated like persons, real human beings—especially the unborn, the elderly, and the disabled—are at risk of being treated as expendable. This inversion poses a direct challenge to the pro-life vision of the human person. Is A.I. shaping how we understand what it means to be human—and at what cost?In this interview, we ask whether artificial intelligence actually supports a pro-life worldview, or quietly undermines it by treating human life as data, utility, or convenience. Watch, reflect, and join the conversation. ⬇️ Share your thoughts in the comments. Get Christopher’s book here. Christopher M. Reilly, Th.D. writes and speaks about a Christian response to advanced technology, bioethics, moral theology, and philosophy. He is the author of the book AI and Sin. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.missiodeicatholic.org/subscribe
