First-time writer Stephen Driscoll has gained the 2025 Australian Christian E-book of the Yr for his debut work, Made in Our Picture: God, Synthetic Intelligence and You, which explores the connection between Christian religion and rising AI know-how.
Driscoll’s ebook took first place on the SparkLit awards ceremony held in Melbourne on Thursday, Aug. 24. Judges described the work as “a sensible and fearless evaluation” of how synthetic intelligence might change society, commending the writer’s skill to steadiness wit and gravity in addressing complicated ethical and theological questions.
On Fb, Driscoll, who serves as a college campus pastor and calls himself a “tech realist,” mentioned he had “a really out-of-body expertise after they learn out my identify.” He added, “I hope this exhibits that the Bible (historic ebook) has a depth of knowledge even for a subject as trendy as AI.”
SparkLit confirmed the award in a Fb publish, noting that Made in Our Picture was chosen from a shortlist of 10 titles. “As a result of it’s made in our picture, AI will make our lives higher and worse,” the judges wrote. “We all know we are able to’t depend on people or market forces to make the fitting ethical calls concerning the improvement and implementation of AI, however we are able to belief the guarantees of God.”
Driscoll’s writer, Matthias Media, additionally prolonged congratulations, calling the win “an encouragement for a first-time writer.”
Driscoll lives in Canberra along with his spouse, Lauren, and their two youngsters. He serves with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical College students on the Australian Nationwide College, the place he disciples Christian college students and shares the gospel with nonbelievers.
Greg Clarke, one of many judges, additionally praised Driscoll’s achievement on social media, calling the accolade “well-deserved.” Michael Collie, nationwide director of SparkLit and a former Christian writer in Argentina, offered the award in individual.
The opposite shortlisted works included: The Physique God Provides by Robert S. Smith (Lexham Press); Confessions of an Beginner Saint by Mandy Smith (NavPress); Godaku Tjukurpa by numerous authors (Bible Society); Fashionable Style Concept by Andrew Judd (Zondervan Educational); Preaching in a New Key by Mark R. Glanville (IVP Educational); Clergymen of Historical past by Sarah Irving-Stonebraker (Zondervan Reflective); Topics and Residents by Michael P. Jensen (Matthias Media); This Teeming Mess of Glory by Matthew Pullar (Useful resource Publications); and World Christianity by Graham Joseph Hill (Cascade Books).
