Episode
Episode 62: John Johnson on Artificial Intelligence, Human Intelligence, Theology, and Freedom
- Podcast
- The Moral Imagination
- Published
- Jul 2, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 5056
- Processing state
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Summary
In this episode of the Moral Imagination Podcast I speak with John Johnson, founder and CEO of Patmos Technologies. We discuss some of the philosophical and theological dimensions of AI, the error of reducing the person to consciousness, the nature of personhood, the problem of commodification, and possible implications of artificial intelligence on human identity freedom, and morality. One Note: This podcast was recorded before Pope Leo XIV released his encyclical, Magnificent Humanity which is why we don’t refer to it. A key theme we discuss the importance or embodiment in understanding the human person. We discuss the dangers of data centralization, behavior modification, the alignment problem in AI. John also shares some of his insights on how he built his company, Patmos to provide services in a “parallel” economy that respects individual agency and freedom and tries to bypass the alliance between the state and big tech. We discuss a number of things including: * The error of viewing the person in terms of digital technology and AI * The limitations of “consciousness” in understanding personhood * The importance of the body in understanding our humanity * Artificial Intelligence and the Alignment problem * The philosophical underpinnings of transhumanism * Artificial Intelligence versus different ways of knowing —including inarticulate rationality and connatural knowing. * Theological reflections on digital technology and artificial intelligence. * Behavior modification generally and especially for vulnerable populations. * The risk of AI and centralization of data * John also shares insights from the Prodigal Son and the Book of Revelation Key Themes Outline Section 1: Introduction & Context 00:00 – 08:50 * Introduction to John Johnson - founder and CEO of Patmos…