America’s history is defined by extraordinary innovation. From the industrial revolution to the transformative power of the internet, technological advancements have consistently sparked massive economic growth and expanded human potential.
Yet, as we celebrate progress, we must acknowledge this historical fact: Our communities have been excluded from the conversation and left behind in the prosperity. With artificial intelligence reshaping the world, we cannot allow history to repeat itself.
We must leverage the lessons of our past and become architects of our own AI future. The approach must be collaborative, ensuring that AI advancement is for all, through accessible tools, shared resources, and real investment in our communities, turning the page on the digital divides of the past and building an inclusive, pro-tech future.
Faith leaders across the country have a critical role in this work. We show up for our communities in every crisis, every fight, and every moment. The AI revolution is no different. We must galvanize our congregations and their networks, uniting our collective voice to ensure we are not sidelined once again.
This is where preaching becomes practice.
Where our community controls its own narrative.
And where our voices become power.
First, we must harness the potential of AI to supercharge entrepreneurship across our communities. AI is a remarkable equalizer, lowering the cost of capabilities that once required vast resources or specialized training. Our local shops and small businesses deserve the chance to use these cutting-edge tools to grow and thrive. Through partnerships between community leaders and the tech industry, we can make computing resources affordable and accessible, empowering local businesses to compete globally and build lasting, generational wealth in their neighborhoods.
Second, AI holds incredible promise for improving health outcomes and enriching our daily lives. As healthcare professionals integrate AI tools, we have a unique chance to bridge long-standing health disparities.
Imagine a future where AI-powered telehealth seamlessly connects families in underserved areas to world-class specialists, or where advanced diagnostics provide personalized care that truly understands diverse patient needs. AI can help modernize our healthcare system from fragmented and reactive to proactive and connected, finally accounting for the disparities that have denied access to quality care, and elevating the standard of living for all.
Third, we must invest in our greatest asset: our people. AI literacy will soon be as fundamental to success as reading and writing. By embedding comprehensive AI education in our schools and community colleges, we can prepare our youth for the jobs of the future, ensuring schools that historically lacked technology resources are first in line for this new wave.
For our current workforce, learning to collaborate with AI must be a shared national commitment. By encouraging employers to proactively invest in retraining and upskilling, workers can move confidently into the AI-driven economy, embracing technology as an engine for career advancement rather than fearing it as a disruption.
To realize this inclusive, pro-tech vision, our communities must tune out the noise and reject the ideological warfare that too often derails progress. Artificial intelligence is simply too vital to our shared future to be bogged down by partisan gridlock or a fractured, state-by-state approach that only creates geographic barriers to access.
We must rise above the loud voices on both the extreme right and the extreme left who use fear or political posturing to either stall innovation or shut people out of the conversation. Instead, we need a unified, national focus that invites voices from all backgrounds — tech leaders, community advocates, and everyday citizens — to the table. Together, we can champion opportunity over politics.
The AI revolution is not something to fear; it is an incredible instrument that we can shape to serve the common good. By investing in education, supporting our workers, and empowering our small businesses, we can ensure that the transformative benefits of this technology reach every corner of America.
Let us embrace the boundless potential of artificial intelligence and work collaboratively to build a society where innovation is synonymous with inclusion, and where every community has the power to rise.
Lacey is senior pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York.