ECLAS joins call for national conversation on AI and the Future of Work

ECLAS and Church of England academics and policy advisers have renewed calls for a national conversation on the impact of artificial intelligence on the world of work, warning that rapid technological change raises profound questions.

In February 2024, General Synod passed a motion recognising the scale of the challenge posed by AI and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The motion affirmed the value of purposeful work and called for guidance on how emerging technologies can serve the common good rather than deepen inequality.

A new series of articles published this month explores these issues in depth. They highlight the opportunities and risks of AI, drawing on biblical principles and Christian social teaching to ask what fair, purposeful and dignified work should look like in an age of intelligent machines.

The reflections consider how automation and algorithmic management are reshaping employment, from the rise of the gig economy to the spread of remote working and workplace surveillance. They examine the ethical questions raised by AI-driven decision-making and the growing influence of technology companies on the conditions of work.

The edition brings together leading voices from the Church’s Faith and Public Life (FPL) team. Becky Plummer, Parliamentary Researcher to the Bishops of Lichfield and Newcastle, sets the scene with a theological and historical perspective on why work matters and what is at stake in an AI-driven economy. Revd Dr Simon Cross, who specialises in AI and technology, offers a deep dive into the gig economy, exposing the realities of platform-based work and exploring how biblical principles of justice can inform practical responses. Revd Dr Kathryn Pritchard, ECLAS Co-Director, examines the impact of AI on the work of women, highlighting both risks of bias by lack of inclusion, and examples of women leading innovation in the tech sector.

The urgency of this conversation is echoed beyond the Church. Within days of his election, Pope Leo XIV described artificial intelligence as “one of the defining issues of our time”, warning that its rapid advance poses new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.

The collection calls on churches, policymakers and the wider public to engage with these questions now, ensuring that innovation serves people rather than the other way around.

The full set of articles appears in the latest edition of Crucible, edited by Will Fremont-Brown and Kathryn Pritchard, which offers theological reflection, practical insight and discussion questions to help churches and communities respond.

Kathryn Pritchard, who co-edited the journal, said:

“The way work and AI overlap is a subject of interest from kitchen tables to lecture halls. We cannot sit on the sidelines, but have a responsibility to engage, point to signs of hope, and do all we can to ensure that the fundamental dignity of every person is upheld. We hope this edition of Crucible will be interesting, informative and of practical use.”

Crucible is a Journal of Christian Social Ethics, with quarterly editions published on key themes of political, social, cultural or environmental significance. Hard copies or digital versions of this edition can be purchased here: Homepage