The head of one of the world’s most widely used Bible apps has cautioned against relying on artificial intelligence for theological guidance, warning current systems lack accuracy.
Bobby Gruenewald, founder and CEO of YouVersion, said the organisation would only introduce open-ended AI features if they meet strict standards for reliability and safety.
“If we ever do (fully adapt AI), it will be because we feel very confident that it can be done safely and be done with a level of accuracy and integrity,” Gruenewald said in an interview with Christian Daily International.
YouVersion, which offers Scripture in hundreds of languages, has expanded globally and recently launched a regional hub in Nairobi to support localised content.
Gruenewald said AI is already used internally to support development and workflows, but the organisation has avoided tools that generate answers to theological questions.
He cited concerns about how existing models handle Scripture.
“The best model with the best performance, with the most popular versions of the Bible that are most indexed, misquotes Scripture at least 15% of the time,” he said. “Some of them as much as 60% of the time.”
He added that even small discrepancies matter.
“For Bible translation, every word and punctuation is meaningful to Scripture translation,” he said.
Gruenewald said open-ended AI systems can produce responses organisations may not want to endorse, particularly if users cannot identify errors.
Despite this, he said YouVersion wants to contribute to improving the technology.
“We want to be a part of the solution and a part of the help,” he said. He added the organisation has engaged developers on improving how AI handles Scripture and would support such efforts if accuracy improves.
“When it comes to answering life’s most important questions and trying to give direction from God’s Word, we need it to be better in order to rely on it,” he said.
Gruenewald's comments come as AI tools grow in popularity, particularly among younger users. He encouraged people to engage directly with Scripture and seek guidance from church leaders, adding that technology should support and not replace discipleship.
Gruenewald concluded that AI may play a role in ministry, but said that accuracy in handling biblical texts must remain a priority.
