AI Just Leveled Up… But What’s That Mean for Us?

The tech world’s been busy.

Google and Microsoft both pulled up to the AI party with major announcements, and if you blinked, you might’ve missed how fast things are shifting. Let me break it down real quick, not the hype, but the headlines and what they mean for your work, your church, and your witness.

The Big Headlines You Should Know:

1. Google Dropped Project Astra + AI Mode in Search
   Think: an AI assistant that watches, listens, and helps in real-time, like a digital intern that doesn’t need sleep. And yes, it’s already in your search bar.

2. Microsoft Is Going All-In on AI Agents
   These agents don’t just answer questions they complete tasks on your behalf. Picture one AI setting up your meeting, emailing the notes, and updating your Google Sheet… without you lifting a finger.

3. Global Chess Moves: U.S. Opens AI Chip Sales to UAE & Saudi Arabia
   That’s bigger than it sounds. It means the AI race isn’t just tech, it’s politics, power, and policy. It’s a digital cold war and we just moved a piece.

4. Publishers Clapping Back at Google
   News/media outlets are mad. Why? AI is summarizing their content without giving them credit or coin. This ain't just about algorithms—this is about ethics.

5. Layoffs in Big Tech During the AI Boom
   Microsoft and others cut jobs while investing more in AI. Translation: humans are being replaced before we’ve even adjusted.

So What’s the Real Trend Here?

Let’s do some future-casting. Here’s what I see:

1. Autonomous Agents Are Here

Tasks will get done without your input. Think digital staff, great for efficiency, dangerous for jobs. For churches? That could mean guest follow-ups, sermon research, even form responses…all handled.

2. AI is Blending Into Everything

You won’t notice it, but it’s there, writing your emails, predicting your habits, reordering your groceries. It's like spiritual formation... slow, subtle, and life-shaping.

3. The Global South is Building Power

Access to AI chips means more players can enter the game. Don’t sleep on Africa, the Middle East, or the Caribbean … they're not just recipients; they’re developers now.

4. Ethics Gonna Get Loud

Ownership. Consent. Fair use. Justice. These aren’t side conversations anymore. If you lead a church, a school, or a nonprofit you must be in these conversations.

5. The Job Market Will Shift

AI won’t just take jobs. It’s gonna reshape work. Our call? Prepare people to reskill, retool, and resist the lie that they don’t matter if they aren’t tech-savvy.

So What Do We Do?

Let’s go TPC:

T – Tool of the Week: Try Google’s Stitch – it's a tool that lets you design an app from just your words. No code, no design background just describe what you want and watch it build a prototype.

P – Prompt to Use: "Design a mobile app for a community food pantry. It should let users check inventory, book pick-ups, and get alerts." Plug that into Google Stitch (or even ChatGPT with a design plugin) and watch it work.

C – Challenge for the Week: Create a digital bulletin using an AI tool (Canva, Gamma, or ChatGPT). Make it visual, interactive, and relevant for your community. Post it, email it, or even drop it into group chat.

Final Word:

If we don’t talk about it, we’ll get talked over. AI isn’t coming—it’s here. But with wisdom, faith, and good tools, we can shape how it shows up in our pulpits, our parenting, our pastoring, and our partnerships.

We don’t need to fear the future. We just need to face it, with faith and fight.

Want a toolkit with this?

Want to talk it out? I’m always building.

Tap in