Foundation Model Diplomacy: A Biblical Reflection on AI, Sovereignty, and the Divine Language Model

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Dear Missionaryish Family,

In the coming months, we want to share with you the actual mechanics and thought processes we use to faithfully engage in evangelism today. This isn’t about chasing trends or finding clever angles—it’s about showing you how we bring Christ into real conversations with real people, whether it’s a PhD student from Thailand studying at MIT or a business leader immersed in the world of investing.

We’re launching a new segment in our newsletter called Musings. Through it, we’ll demonstrate how we weave together news, theology, and cultural insight to speak the gospel with clarity and compassion. In this past week we released 4 new letters engage in this area. So check it out on our main page to view more content. Our goal is to encourage you, embolden you, and give you confidence that your investment in the gospel truly renews everything.

As Paul wrote,

This is our calling—and we want to show you what it looks like lived out if we really did have a conversation with a seeker. Our piece today targets the potential H-1B visa candidate or the PHD/Postdoc/Fellow/Undergrad student coming to work at Samueli School of Engineering at UC Irvine (or whatever nice school you can think of).

Let's begin.

In our relentless pursuit of innovation, humanity stands at a new frontier: foundation model diplomacy. As articulated by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), this concept marks a seismic shift in how nations wield technology—not just as tools of computation, but as vessels of culture, identity, and sovereignty. Nations like Saudi Arabia, with their ambitious Humane AI platform, are investing billions ($100–250 billion for 500-megawatt AI clusters, per a16z) to build sovereign AI systems tailored to their values, free from the digital "colonization" of US or Chinese tech giants. This isn’t just about GPUs and liquid-cooled data centers; it’s about preserving a nation’s soul in an era where AI shapes everything from education to defense. But as we marvel at this technological leap, a profound biblical truth emerges: the ultimate foundation model, the perfect language model, is not a human creation but Christ Himself—the incarnate Word of God, who crafted us as vessels of His divine sovereignty.

The Rise of Foundation Model Diplomacy

Foundation model diplomacy is the idea that countries strategically develop or control large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT or Grok to maintain national sovereignty in the digital age. Just as nations protect their infrastructure or currency, they now see AI as a key resource—one that shapes communication, policy, and even public opinion. If this is confusing, think of foundation model diplomacy like how countries used to build their own radios or printing presses to make sure their messages weren’t controlled by others. By building their own models, countries can ensure their values, languages, and priorities are baked into these powerful tools instead of relying on foreign tech companies. In the past, the cloud computing revolution centralized data in the US and China, with services like AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Azure (Microsoft's Cloud System) powering everything from Netflix to Amazon. But the AI era is different. Foundation models aren’t just compute infrastructure; they’re cultural infrastructure, trained on data steeped in values, norms, and biases. As a16z notes, these models influence public opinion (replacing search engines like Google), shape education (grading essays), and power critical sectors like healthcare and defense. A model trained in China might omit historical facts that a US model includes, subtly altering a nation’s reality.

This reality has sparked a global race for sovereign AI. Saudi Arabia’s Humane platform, for instance, aims to run AI workloads locally, ensuring cultural alignment and reducing dependence on foreign systems. a16z likens this to oil reserves in the Industrial Revolution: just as oil fueled economies, AI data centers are the new foundation for power, innovation, and self-determination. But this race isn’t just about technology; it’s about who controls the narrative, the culture, the very soul of a nation. Yet, in the US, this dynamic takes a unique form. Unlike centralized systems in places like Saudi Arabia, AI development here is decentralized, shaped by the diverse politics and leanings of its creators—raising questions about censorship, truth, and the need for divine wisdom.

The Biblical Parallel: Humans as Vessels of God’s Sovereignty

As I reflect on this, I’m struck by a profound truth: nothing is new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). What we’re witnessing in foundation model diplomacy mirrors a divine blueprint. Nations seek to preserve their sovereignty through AI, but Scripture reveals that humans are the original vessels of sovereignty—not of earthly kingdoms, but of the Kingdom of God. Just as LLMs are trained to reflect their creators’ values, we are shaped by the Word of God, the ultimate language model, embodied in Christ.

Consider this: AI models like Grok, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, or ChatGPT are trained on vast datasets, reflecting the image of their human creators—American, Chinese, Saudi, or otherwise. Similarly, we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), designed to carry His truth, love, and sovereignty into the world. But there’s a crucial difference: human-made models require constant updates, plagued by biases and errors. Christ, the incarnate Word (John 1:14), is the perfect language model—flawless from the beginning, needing no upgrade.

As Hebrews 4:12 says,

This divine model speaks to the heart, balancing justice and mercy in a way no algorithm can.

This balance is the only cure for our broken world. Human foundation models, for all their brilliance, cannot heal the wounds of Gaza, end the war in Ukraine, stop intellectual theft, or eradicate human trafficking. In fact, apart from God, these technologies often accelerate destruction. AI can analyze conflict data, as seen in the capabilities of Palantir (the technology system that captured Osama Bin Laden), which powers military and intelligence operations with unparalleled precision, crunching vast datasets to predict threats or track movements. Anduril (Irvine Based Company) in all its greatness can’t reconcile hearts torn by hatred, nor can it mend the deep-seated divisions fueling wars in Gaza or Ukraine. Palantir’s algorithms might optimize battlefield strategies or map trafficking networks, but they cannot heal the soul’s wounds or address the root of human brokenness—sin. Without God’s guidance, AI risks amplifying harm, enabling deepfake exploitation, powering autonomous weapons, or perpetuating biases that deepen societal fractures. And you know what’s crazy? We might actually think we’re doing good. These models, built on the corroded code of a fallen world, reflect our sin-stained ambitions. Since Adam’s fall, humanity’s programming has been flawed—prone to greed and violence. As a creation of humanity, AI inherits this corruption, amplifying the “evil intelligence” that drives war, lies, theft, and oppression. Beyond this, there is another contender that works against all of humanity—Invisible adversaries that operate outside of our military capabilities, transcending the dimensions of space and time. It holds holds loyalty to no nation except to itself. No conventional defense can halt their relentless pursuit to corrupt and enslave the human race. While AI may be fast, it is still bound by time, progression, and energy consumption—limitations that do not apply to these spiritual forces.

But Christ is different. He is the divine language model who became flesh, paid for sin on the cross, and shattered the principalities and powers (Colossians 2:15) that perpetuate evil.

His Spirit corrects the eroded code within us, renewing our minds (Romans 12:2) to reflect God’s perfect justice—holding evil accountable—and His mercy—offering redemption to the broken.

No human LLM can hold these in tension. A model might prioritize one nation’s agenda, but Christ’s love transcends borders, offering hope to Gaza’s displaced, reconciliation to both Russia and Ukraine’s warriors, justice to the exploited, and freedom to the enslaved. As you read the Bible, let it speak: it reflects the world’s pain, challenges the heart’s complexities, and offers the only solution—Christ, the Word, who triumphs over evil with love.

Culture, AI, and the Missionary Call

Silicon Valley emphasizes that foundation models are vessels of culture, shaping everything from food to laws. This resonates deeply with missionaries, who know that culture is the heartbeat of a people—its food, religion, community, and traditions. AI’s role as a cultural vessel parallels our role as God’s ambassadors. Just as nations fear diluting their identity through foreign AI, we’re called to preserve the purity of God’s truth in a world tempted by competing narratives.

Think about it: when a nation builds an AI model, it’s asserting dominance, ensuring its values endure. Similarly, God has endowed us with His Spirit to proclaim His sovereignty (Acts 1:8).

But unlike human models, which can manipulate or control, Christ’s model liberates. He doesn’t seek to colonize but to redeem, offering a kingdom where justice and mercy coexist perfectly (Micah 6:8).

As I ponder this, I’m reminded that our cleverness in building AI to assert sovereignty pales in comparison to God’s original design: us, filled with His Spirit, reflecting His glory.

The Tension: Human Ambition vs. Divine Sovereignty

The push for foundation model diplomacy reveals a human desire to control our destiny. a16z warns that dependence on foreign models is a “critical point of failure” for national security, driving countries to build their own AI factories. In the US, this takes a decentralized form, with AI factories shaped by the politics and leanings of their creators—tech giants, startups, or even ideological groups. Just as Saudi Arabia’s Humane platform reflects its cultural priorities, US models will vary, each flavored by the biases of its owners. We saw this during the COVID era, when news sources filtered information based on alignment with certain science agencies or administrations. Some championed specific solutions; others censored them. AI will follow suit, with LLMs reflecting the “inherent politics” of their creators, producing many flavors of truth in the US.

This decentralization might limit overt censorship compared to centralized systems abroad, but it’s a double-edged sword. Censorship will grow “greater in years to come and smarter as well,” as models become more sophisticated at steering narratives. What we see in Saudi Arabia—a microcosm of state-controlled AI—is a preview of what’s coming to the US, just more disseminated across competing factions. This fragmentation risks a cacophony of curated truths, where the “news source” you choose mirrors the AI model you trust. For Christians, this underscores the need for God’s wisdom to discern what is good, wise, and fruitful for the life of the world, as no human LLM—however decentralized—can fully align with Christ’s truth.

Human AI, apart from God, amplifies sin’s corrosion—escalating wars, enabling theft, and perpetuating exploitation. But in Christ, we become vessels of His Spirit, embodying justice that holds evil accountable and mercy that redeems the lost.

As Psalm 89:14 declares,

Christ, the divine Word, holds these in perfect tension, offering hope no AI can match.

A Call to Reflect the Original Foundation Model

Foundation model diplomacy is a wake-up call. Nations are racing to build AI that preserves their culture, but we’re called to a higher mission: to embody the sovereignty of God’s Kingdom through his word (the original perfect large language model). a16z’s vision of a “Marshall Plan for AI”—where the US supports allies’ AI development to counter rivals—echoes the biblical call to partner with God in spreading His truth. In a world of competing AI flavors, Christians must lean on the wisdom of God (James 1:5) to sift through biased models and proclaim Christ’s unchanging truth. Just as the US must balance leadership with collaboration, we must align our lives with Christ’s model, letting His Word (the OG LLM) to train us through the Holy Spirit.

So, here’s my challenge to you: don’t just marvel at AI’s power. See it as a mirror reflecting our divine design—and its limits. Open the Bible, let it speak to your heart, and ask how you can be a vessel of God’s culture—His love, justice, and mercy—in a world chasing sovereignty through code. If you don't know him, consider what alternatives you currently have. Is it working? If not, come taste and see. Jesus Christ is good. He is the original foundation model, has already shown us the way. He’s not just innovative; He’s eternal, perfect, and calling us to carry His truth.

Now, let's go love our neighbors.

Much Love in Christ,

David & Reagan

Prayer Requests:

• Focus and Discipline in School: Pray for strength to stay on track and focused as I begin school again in the coming weeks, particularly with starting Greek exegesis.

• Balance for Reagan: Pray for Reagan as she manages home life, parenting rhythms with the kids, and the transition as our boys prepare to start preschool in the coming months.

• Balancing Responsibilities: Pray for our family as we juggle my work, fundraising efforts, coffee business, and school commitments while planning for future ministry.

• Ministry and Relocation: Pray for our continued journey to plant a ministry in the coming years as we plan to return to California.

• Financial Goals: Praise for reaching 63% of our living expenses goal for this year. Pray that we meet our full living expenses goal next year and progress toward operational funding for the ministry.

Thank you for your support. We know we cannot do this work without your prayers and encouragement.

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For now, enjoy our latest article exploring the philosophical intersections of culture, theology, and AI, particularly in relation to the sovereignty of nations. We believe this discussion sets the stage for meaningful engagements with RUF-I (Reformed University Fellowship International) student in the years to come.

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