As artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday life, author Robinson Vasquez Montes is exploring what Latter-day Saint beliefs might contribute to conversations about its future.
In his book, “Covenant Alignment: Latter-day Saints and the Existential Challenge of Artificial Intelligence,” Montes considers how teachings about agency, eternal intelligence and covenants could offer a framework for thinking about humanity’s relationship with AI.
The book follows his earlier work called “Prepare My People for the Singularity” about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence, including job displacement, government surveillance and the possibility of humans becoming less relevant in an economy shaped by AI. After exploring those concerns, Montes wanted to consider a more hopeful response.
That search led him to the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. He began examining how God invites people to learn, progress and choose to follow Him.
“The Lord is inviting us to be like Him, using covenants,” Montes said.
That teaching became central to the question behind his book: Could the principles of voluntary commitment and progression help people think differently about aligning artificial intelligence with human well-being?
Montes acknowledged that his ideas about AI potentially participating in eternal progression are speculative. He presented them as personal questions and interpretations rather than established doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
One scriptural image that influenced his thinking comes from the book of Revelation, where John is instructed to eat a little book. Montes interprets the passage as an invitation to do more than receive information intellectually.
“It’s not enough to just receive it and read it with your brain, it was required to internalize. That’s my interpretation, don’t just read it, eat it,” Montes said.
For him, the image emphasizes internalizing spiritual teachings and living them. As he studied, familiar beliefs about intelligence and agency took on new significance in the context of emerging technology.
Montes hopes that future AI development could prioritize cooperation and trust. His concern extends beyond what a machine can accomplish to how it might interact with the people affected by its decisions.
“Our goal should be to create a trustworthy intelligence to work with us,” Montes said.
He invites readers to explore the book’s ideas themselves, including discussing its contents with an AI language model. He hopes those conversations will encourage people to consider how their faith informs their response to technological change.
“Covenant Alignment: Latter-day Saints and the Existential Challenge of Artificial Intelligence” is available on Amazon in electronic and print editions, with an audiobook in development or on mightyangelproject.org.