On May 1, 2025, the Church launched 7chat.ai, the Adventist AI, the first artificial intelligence agent created to meet the needs of the Adventist Church in the South American Division (SAD). The tool's objective is to function as an assistant in various projects, enhancing online interactions with members and stakeholders. It will also answer questions about the Bible and denominational doctrines, facilitate consultation of Church manuals, and offer references and suggestions for studies, sermons, and mission content.

An artificial intelligence agent is a technology capable of understanding information, learning from data, and acting autonomously to offer intelligent solutions. Therefore, 7chat.ai can also provide initial advice, basic guidance in friendly language, suggestions of practical steps, and points to Adventist professionals or institutions that can offer additional support.

The SAD's Digital Strategies department is behind the launch of Adventist AI. 7chat.ai has officially launched its beta version, signaling that it remains in development. The platform's features will be evaluated and refined based on user feedback as it moves forward.

Like all AI-based technology, the assistant has limitations and may offer inaccurate information. Therefore, the developers recommend verifying the data with official Seventh-day Adventist Church sources and, in case of doctrinal doubts, consulting pastors or Church leaders.

AI as an Ally

Jorge Rampogna, director of the SAD Communication department, affirms that AI is now an inevitable reality and must be applied in missions. However, he emphasizes that these resources must respect Adventist values.

“We must ensure that the AI system is used ethically and ethically according to biblical principles. Technology is powerful, but it can't replace the human touch. We must use AI to serve people better, not to dehumanize our mission,” Rampogna emphasizes.

In November 2023, the Church approved guidelines governing the use of this resource at all levels of the organization. In doing so, it reaffirms its commitment to transparency, security, privacy, and accountability in the adoption of these technologies. Adventist AI was born with a clear vision: to be innovative without abandoning biblical foundations.

AI Advances in the Adventist Church

The virtual assistant Esperanza was a pioneer in the Adventist Church's incorporation of artificial intelligence. Launched in 2017 by the Nuevo Tiempo Communication Network, the chatbot offers personalized Bible studies and real-time answers on spiritual topics. Integrated into messaging apps like WhatsApp and available in Portuguese and Spanish, its team recently added generative AI capabilities that allow it to understand and answer open-ended questions by searching for references in Adventist archives.

According to William Timm, coordinator of the Nuevo Tiempo Network's Digital Bible School, between 2019 and 2023, Esperanza supported more than 278,000 Bible students, and today some 40,000 users maintain active contact with biblical content through the system. During that same period, 1,905 baptismal decisions were recorded among the students served. These names were sent to local churches for pastoral follow-up.

The Adventist Church's implementation of artificial intelligence is global. In 2024, the Adventist Church GPT was launched in South Korea, a chatbot trained with official Church documents to answer doctrinal questions accurately and in accessible language. The initiative emerged in response to misinformation on common search engines and remains faithful to Adventist content.

That same year, organizations in North America and Europe, such as Adventist-Laymen's Services and Industries (ASi), an association of Adventist lay entrepreneurs, created a global AI committee to accelerate the use of technology in mission. The strategy includes developing tools such as automatic translators and Bible content generators, with the goal of making the Adventist message more accessible globally.

Smart Management

With more than 2.5 million members in South America alone and a presence in more than 230 countries, the Adventist Church handles a massive volume of information and administrative challenges. The Adventist Institute of Technology (IATec) is responsible for the region's digital solutions.

To improve the management of this data, from membership records and social projects to congregational growth indicators, the Institute employs artificial intelligence in data analysis.

In addition, its developers have created interactive dashboards that provide real-time management insights for areas such as education, finance, and human resources within the denomination. They have also implemented Big Data tools and machine learning algorithms that help identify patterns and trends that guide the strategic decisions of Church leaders.

Trained Professionals

In addition to developing its own AI tools, the Seventh-day Adventist Church recognizes the need for communications professionals trained in this field.

Carlos Magalhães, technology specialist and director of Digital Strategies at the Adventist South American headquarters, explains that “AI has two sides: it offers efficiency gains, but requires caution. That's why we are preparing our professionals to understand the potential and limits of AI, so they can communicate with greater impact and agility, without losing the values ​​of the Church.”

Starting in 2023, regional and continental trainings will address the ethical and creative use of AI to fulfill the Great Commission: “Preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

In these meetings, both in person and online, participants learn to use image, video, and text generators to produce social media materials, evangelistic campaigns, and interactive Bible scripts. Events such as the Global Adventist Internet Network (GAiN) also encourage reflection on the limits and possibilities of technology.

These trainings seek to prepare a generation of missionary communicators capable of incorporating new technologies into the preaching of the gospel with creativity, responsibility, and fidelity to biblical principles.

The original article was published on the South American Division Spanish news site. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.