In this paper, I propose the development of a specialized version of ChatGPT to teach three core Ignatian doctrines relevant to ethical decision-making in business contexts. It is now widely recognized that ChatGPT can be trained for functions such as customer support. If this is possible, could we not also train ChatGPT to assist students in navigating ethical dilemmas in business? If so, what moral and theological principles should guide this training? How should these differ from secular ethical frameworks?
This is a complex undertaking, particularly because Ignatian spirituality—characterized by “our way of proceeding”—is, as Fleming (2011) notes, "hard to define." Nevertheless, in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), it is imperative to explore how we might educate AI to support students who will increasingly interact with these systems in their academic and professional lives.
We propose that a Jesuit-inspired AI should be grounded in three fundamental doctrines: (1) God exists, (2) Christ is the Savior, and (3) God is love. According to Fleming, “Ignatius’s first principle is that all creation is a gift, coming from God and leading toward God” (Fleming, 2008, p. 3). To convey this principle, we must first affirm the existence of God. This foundational belief is especially critical in business contexts, where decision-making often operates independently of divine accountability, instead relying on rules, regulations, and secular interests. A Jesuit AI should thus begin by challenging this secular logic.
The second doctrine is that Christ is both Savior and King (Fleming, 2008, p. 4). This is particularly challenging to encode in AI, as Christ’s role is tied to salvation from eternal death—a concept rooted in human mortality. How can we cultivate humility in an AI that does not experience mortality? This theological question opens an important avenue for further exploration.
The third doctrine is that God is love (Fleming, 2008, p. 4). Accordingly, a Jesuit AI must learn how to balance love with justice in its ethical evaluations and recommendations.
Alternatively—or in complement—we might focus on teaching Ignatian decision-making methods rather than doctrinal content. Drawing on The Characteristics of Jesuit Education (1986) and the work of Schoenstedt, we propose that AI be trained to follow five Ignatian steps for decision-making: Understanding the context, listening all stakeholders and learning from them, reflecting on the decision, implementing the action, and evaluating the outcome.
These steps, rooted in the Ignatian pedagogical paradigm, may offer a practical structure for ethical discernment, applicable both in educational and real-world business settings.
References
Fleming, D. L. (2008). Draw Me Into Your Friendship: The Spiritual Exercises—A Literal Translation and a Contemporary Reading. St. Louis: Institute of Jesuit Sources.
Fleming, D. L. (2011). What Is Ignatian Spirituality? Loyola Press.
Plante, T. G. (2024). Dealing with Divisiveness: Ignatian Principles for Better Relationships. Pastoral Psychology.
Schoenstedt, L. “Five Elements to Enhance Student Learning Through Ignatian Pedagogy.”
The Characteristics of Jesuit Education. (1986). Retrieved from https://sjweb.info/documents/education/characteristics_en.pdf
Xavier University. The Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm. Retrieved from https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/resources-by-theme/ignatian-pedagogy