“5 Future Technologies the Church Isn’t Prepared to Address” is written by Joe Terrell, Carey’s content manager. Joe’s writings for Medium, Relevant, Carey Nieuwhof, and his personal blog, Instrument of Mercy, have been read by over three million people.
From the invention of the printing press to the advent of the internet, the church has a pretty decent track record of leveraging new technology to further the mission of the church.
However, the past five decades have seen more technological advancement than in the previous five centuries. As the rapidity of innovation continues to advance, fascinating ethical and moral conundrums are introduced quicker than we can form a coherent opinion on their application.
In this article, I will explore five future technologies that will pose significant moral dilemmas for the church’s future. I’ve arranged them in order of how soon their effects will be felt in the future.
So, for example, the consequences of the first two technologies I profile – Big Data and artificial intelligence – are already being felt (and will increase exponentially). And while the final few technologies may sound like far-flung science fiction, significant research and progress are already being made in their respective fields.
And before we get started, I want to acknowledge the futility of making future predictions – especially in regards to technology. Watch any science-fiction film or television show from the mid-20th century that “predicted” what life would be like at the turn of the 21st century and prepare to be humbled.
At the same time, do you think anyone living in 1950 would’ve guessed they’d have access to all of the world’s collected knowledge and entertainment through a device that literally fits in the palm of their hand?
Probably not.
#1: The All-Knowing Algorithm
Have you ever had one of those moments when you’re talking about something with friends and, a few hours later, you receive an ad in your social media feed related to that exact thing?
“My phone must be listening to me,” you think.
The truth, I assure you, is much more discomforting.
The advent of the internet created a new type of gold rush – only the “gold” isn’t shiny rocks buried in the ground…it’s you. Or, perhaps more specifically, all of the data you provide.
We all select “I Agree” to the Terms & Conditions for any new app, product, or service we start using. And most of us click “Accept All Cookies” when prompted by a website pop-up.
Every time you agree to share information, new data is added to a personalized digital profile that is sold to advertisers. This is how “free” sites on the internet (like any social networking site) generate revenue. Advertisers then use algorithms – or coded formulas – to make connections between data sets that are used to analyze and predict human behavior.
How robust are these digital profiles? Well, as of 2018 (so definitely outdated), Facebook’s internal algorithms monitored 52,000 data points (or “traits”) per person. And that’s just one site. Google’s digital profiles average 2GB per person (and, yes, you can download that profile).
So, back to that creepy “my phone is listening to me” feeling. Yeah, your phone doesn’t need to spy on your conversations – the truth is you willingly hand over enough information to the major tech companies that “targeting” you with relevant online content requires no espionage or subterfuge.Your phone doesn’t need to spy on your conversations. You willingly hand over enough personal information to make that kind of corporate espionage irrelevant. – @iamjoeterrellCLICK TO TWEET
Whether we realize it or not, we’re being subtly observed and manipulated every time we go online by algorithms that “know” us better than we know ourselves. And from the virulent spread of “fake news” and ever-increasing political polarization, these algorithms are already impacting the “real world.”
What does all of this mean for the church moving forward?
I don’t want to mince words here: Tech companies like Google, Apple, and Meta know more about you than any pastor, spouse, or “accountability partner” can ever hope to know.
Additionally, as more data is collected, tech companies will become increasingly adept at capturing and maintaining their hold on people’s attention – on an individual level. In the so-called “attention economy,” more eyeballs (and time) equates to more money.
What This Means for the Church
As machine-learning algorithms improve, the church will face increasing competition from social media platforms, streaming services, online retailers, and – in the not-too-distant future – virtual reality “metaverse” experiences that can better engineer, predict, and “fulfill” the felt needs of their audiences.
In a head-to-head battle, a church that relies on entertainment and spectacle to keep people in the seats will lose out to tech companies that do it better. The algorithm is just too good. But flashy entertainment and shallow consumerism are not the ingredients to a life well lived and loved.
Instead, churches will need to double down on what an algorithm can’t provide: Sustainable community, interpersonal discipleship, and a life-giving mission bigger than a single individual.
