In Depth:  technology

Peter Lynas

I like Artificial Intelligence (AI). I use it most days, and it has already proved itself a remarkably useful tool. But I also have concerns.

I used to be a lawyer, and it seems obvious to me that AI will make a good junior lawyer. It can review documents, analyse contracts, summarise case law, and draft a first version of a legal argument at astonishing speed. What's far less obvious is how anyone becomes a senior lawyer in a world where AI does most of the junior work.

Jonny Pollock

My son does social media for his part-time job. Part of the task is creating posts for the business's social media account.

The hope behind so much online activity is shared by many: that one day a post will "go viral", meaning that a post catches the algorithm, the numbers rise, strangers pass it to other strangers, then suddenly, thousands of people are paying attention (and buying stuff!).

Lizzie Harewood

We’ve been studying Romans 14 at church recently, and the teaching has covered "disputable matters" – issues where Christians, in good faith, may disagree.

Politics, preferred Bible translations, and permitted leisure activities on a Sunday are all examples of what might fall into this category nowadays. But one such "disputable matter" is rapidly moving up the agenda for many Christian families: just what should we do about smartphones and children in the church?

John-Edward Funnell

Some of my most precious times as a father are when I get to share cultural moments that shaped me, with my children – blasts from the past. For example, when the radio plays an Oasis song and, to my surprise, my teenagers sing along to every word with me.

In these moments of shared cultural experience, our generational divide vanishes. To them, the song is “retro” – to me it is “nostalgic”. But we are united in that moment.

loving your digital neighbour

Tristram Ridley-Jones

Christian churches, organisations, and charities are entrusted with managing resources – donations, grants, and assets – to fulfil their missions. This stewardship now extends to the digital realm.

As financial operations increasingly rely on technology, cybersecurity is no longer only an IT issue but a fundamental aspect of financial integrity and missional continuity. For finance teams and treasurers, safeguarding digital assets is as crucial as maintaining physical security.