THIRDWAY ARTICLES: AI-generated or Spirit-inspired?

I recently received a number of questions about the authenticity of the Thirdway articles and to what extent artificial intelligence (AI) is involved.  Is it machine-generated or Spirit-inspired?  To what extent can Thirdway claim that it represents a Christ perspective and not just another algorithmic computer narrative?  Is it authentic AI, or is it authentic Thirdway?

This is an extremely legitimate and important question.  One that deserves an honest and discerning answer.  Discerning, because simply disregarding AI as a spiritless tool could be as damaging as surrendering all communication to technology.

The challenge is in the balance.  Finding that balance is the challenge.

THE PROCEDURE

So, how are the articles on Thirdway conceived, written and published?

1. Through countless hours of research, reading and exploring, topics are identified that both address the urgency of the season and a Christ response. Topics are never AI-generated.  All the topics are spirit-inspired and spirit-driven.  AI can convey information in inspirational nuances, but it cannot conceive spirit-filled topics.  Articles will also contain personal experiences that AI cannot imitate or duplicate

2. Once the topic is identified, the content and the context will be explored through further research and extensive reading. Points are then created to navigate the content into digestible portions and carefully scrutinised for the applicable audience
3. Once the content has been written and the article formatted, AI enters
4. The content is fed to AI with an instruction to create a more fluent style of writing that will enable a smoother readability. This is done because audiences globally are getting conditioned to read articles that are more penetrable in a fast-paced world.  It also assists the author, for whom English is not the first language and where more suitable words do not come naturally, to rephrase the content.
5. Once AI provides a more fluent result, the article is once again scrutinised by Thirdway to ensure that the content and context is authentic and reflects the original heart of the message

THE RESULT

To illustrate the point, the content above has been fed to AI with the following instruction: Rewrite more fluently but keep the original content and heart. This is the AI result of the original text:

A MORE FLUENT AND FAITHFUL REWRITE

In recent weeks, I’ve received several questions about the authenticity of the Thirdway articles and the extent to which AI is involved. Are these writings machine‑generated or Spirit‑inspired? To what degree can Thirdway claim to carry a Christ‑centred perspective rather than becoming just another algorithmic narrative? Is it authentic AI, or is it authentic Thirdway?

These are deeply legitimate and important questions — and they deserve an honest, discerning answer. Discerning, because dismissing AI as a spiritless tool can be just as damaging as handing over all communication to technology. The real challenge lies in the balance. And finding that balance is part of our responsibility.

THE PROCEDURE

1. Spirit‑conceived topics

Every article begins long before AI is involved. Through countless hours of research, reading, prayer (AI even added this where I forgot to add it), and exploration, topics are identified that speak to both the urgency of the moment and Christ’s response within it. None of these topics are generated by AI. They are Spirit‑inspired and Spirit‑driven. AI can help express ideas with inspirational nuance, but it cannot conceive a Spirit‑filled theme. Many articles also include personal experiences — moments AI cannot imitate or duplicate.

2. Human‑crafted content

Once a topic is chosen, the content and context are explored through further research and extensive reading. Key points are shaped to guide the flow of the article, broken into digestible portions, and carefully evaluated for the intended audience.

3. Writing and formatting

The article is then written — fully human, fully intentional — and shaped into a coherent structure.

4. AI enters only at the level of fluency

After the content is complete, AI is introduced. The full article is given to the system with one instruction: create a more fluent, globally readable style.

This step exists because:

• Readers worldwide are increasingly conditioned to engage with smoother, more accessible writing in a fast‑paced environment.
• English is not the author’s first language, and AI helps refine phrasing, enhance readability, and find more suitable words without altering the heart of the message.

5. Final human discernment

Once AI provides a more fluent version, the article is reviewed again by Thirdway to ensure that the content, tone, and context remain authentic and faithful to the original heart of the message.

I closed the thread with one final question to AI: What does the Bible say about communication.  The short answer:

Mike, the Bible has an astonishingly rich and textured theology of communication — not just what we say, but how, why, and from where the words come. When you trace the thread from Genesis to Revelation, you discover that communication is never merely a human skill; it is a spiritual act, a moral act, and often a missional act.

I can say AMEN to that