A prominent Christian artist has warned the Church to avoid the massive use of artificial intelligence in the music industry because of the spiritual implications.
Natalie Grant, a veteran contemporary gospel artist and nine-time Grammy nominee, expressed on The Kent Ingle Podcast recently, that while AI is a beautiful tool, the excessive use of AI to shape our experience with Jesus is unwise.
“AI is a beautiful tool. Used in the right, responsible way [it] can really help. But it can be incredibly dangerous when all you have to do is just punch in a couple of prompts, and it is spitting out something that’s helping to shape someone’s spirituality, [and] shape their experience with Jesus. We still need us [humans] for that,” she said.
Grant also expressed concern about AI shaping the direction of the Church. She said the Church should lead in determining how AI can be used as an assistance rather than becoming dependent on it.
“We’re going to have to be really careful that we are helping steward a movement, that is not allowing AI to direct where the Church is going, but instead we are directing how AI is used and assisting us to where the Church is going,” Grant explained.
“AI cannot steward the presence of God,” she added.
She also emphasized that AI cannot replace the unique experience of live performances, noting that people will continue to desire the connection and atmosphere that come with hearing artists perform live.
“I think this is actually going to continue to create a desire, an urgency for live performance. See, like at some point when you’re going somewhere, you and your beautiful wife… you’re like, ‘We want to go sit and listen to some jazz.’ That AI artist can’t perform that,” she said.
Grant also mentioned the importance of legislation to protect creators in the Christian music industry in the state of Tennessee. She expressed how she had the privilege of working with Governor Bill Lee to make Tennessee the first state to enact legislation protecting songwriters against AI.
According to Reuters, earlier this month, AI music startup Suno launched a suite of AI models in partnership with record companies Warner Music Group and BMG that allow users to generate new music inspired by the licensed music of participating artists.
Near the end of the episode on The Kent Ingle Podcast, Grant connected her warning about the platform to a personal lesson in obedience. “Thank the Lord, he’s brought me back to a place where I chase obedience,” she said, adding that obedience has opened doors she could not have planned for herself.
The report also stated that the point is not that Christian artists should reject every new tool or avoid every large platform. Rather, technology must remain a servant, not a shepherd, and real spiritual leadership still requires people who pray, practice, submit to accountability, and love the congregation in front of them.
For families and church leaders watching the rise of AI, Grant’s advice is plain enough to remember, “Keep Jesus at the center, protect the human work of worship, and refuse to confuse reach with fruit. A machine can generate sound, but it cannot take responsibility for the soul of a church,” she said.
