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About the AI Lab at Biola

The AI Lab was initiated by Biola students and faculty with the goal to become the leading resource center for faculty, staff and students as artificial intelligence becomes a prominent presence in today’s society. To connect with our team or if you have any questions, email ai.lab@biola.edu or request a consultation.

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    Mission and Vision

    student holding a laptop talking to a group of other students
     

    Mission Statement

    The mission of the Artificial Intelligence Lab at Biola is to engage and experiment with AI in a way that reflects the Christian commitment to moral and ethical discernment, human dignity, and the unique capacities inherent in the image of God. We aim to be a resource center, actively shaping the future of AI by providing education, fostering dialogue and leading innovative AI projects rooted in the Christian tradition.

    Vision Statement

    The Artificial Intelligence Lab at Biola (AI Lab) will be a leading resource for Christians who seek to understand and responsibly use artificial intelligence in its many manifestations and applications to glorify God and share his love with the world.

    Core Values

    The AI lab will adhere to core principles of Biblical centrality, ethical discernment, human dignity, education, innovation for kingdom impact, human interaction, interdisciplinary collaboration, and honesty and transparency. This commitment aligns with our belief in integrating Christian values into the development and application of AI technologies.

    Biblical Centrality

    Every activity we undertake will be covered in prayer and measured against the teachings of Scripture.

    Ethical Discernment

    We prioritize moral and ethical discernment in the development and application of AI technologies, ensuring that our work aligns with Biblical values. This includes active participation in ongoing ethical discussions within the Christian community.

    Human Dignity

    We uphold the inherent worth and dignity of individuals, recognizing humans as created in the image of God. Our AI endeavors seek to enhance human flourishing by addressing societal challenges while respecting individual privacy and independence.

    Education and Equipping

    We are committed to educating students, faculty and the broader Christian community in order to equip them with technical skills while instilling a deep understanding of Christian values and principles. We will provide education on such topics as AI ethics, theology of technology and interdisciplinary seminars.

    Innovation for Kingdom Impact

    We actively engage in AI projects that cater to the needs of the Christian community or are grounded in Christian perspectives, values or principles. We encourage the use of AI for social impact, addressing issues such as poverty alleviation, humanitarian aid and medical care to mention a few.

    Human Interaction

    Our lab actively prioritizes the need for genuine human connections. While AI might enhance human interactions, it can never replace them. Our AI activities will emphasize the importance of face-to-face communication, empathy, accountability and relational aspects of faith. AI should complement and support, not substitute, the richness of human relationships within the Christian community.

    Interdisciplinary Approach

    We embrace an interdisciplinary approach that goes beyond technical acumen, fostering collaborations between AI experts, theologians, ethicists, and social scientists. At Biola, we are uniquely positioned to draw from Christian scholars, students and alumni in theology, psychology, the sciences, business, film, the arts and more. This ensures a holistic perspective that integrates technological advancements with Christian ethics.

    Honesty and Transparency

    We recognize the areas where AI systems can struggle with biases in their training data and with ‘hallucinations’, where responses and their objective truth can be distorted. We advocate for AI usage that embraces the citation of sources and provides the logic behind outputs. This transparency aids people in evaluating the reliability and quality of AI outputs, allowing them to make more informed decisions.

    Meet Our Leadership Team

    Faculty

    David Bourgeois

    Director of AI Lab

    Professor of Business Analytics and Information Systems

    Michael Arena

    Dean of the Crowell School of Business

    Yohan Lee

    Associate Dean of Technology for the School of Science, Technology and Health

    Douglas Axe

    Co-Director, Stewart Science Honors Program

    Rosa Endowed Chair of Molecular Biology

    Silvia Mah

    Director of Office of Innovation

    Adjunct Professor

    Genti Buzi

    Associate Professor of Computer Science and Robotics

    Director, Robotics Program

    Aaron Kleist

    Professor of English

    Tim Milosch

    Senior Instructional Designer

    Adjunct Faculty, Political Science

    Mihretu Guta

    Adjunct Faculty, Philosophy

    AI Lab Associates

    Stefan Jungmichel

    Master of Business Administration (MBA)

    Clarissa Jocelyn

    Animation

    Torrey Honors College

    Gabriel Anderson

    Computer Science

    Carolina Pestana

    Psychology

    Business Administration

    Joseph Hartono

    Computer Science

    Stewart Science Honors Program

    STEM Student Advisory Council

    Natasha Warner

    Business Administration

    En Duo Wang

    Computer Science