Theo-Moral Imagination in the Digital Age: AI, Womanist Visual Culture, and the Pursuit of Freedom

This proposal is for a paper titled "Theo-Moral Imagination in the Digital Age: AI, Womanist Visual Culture, and the Pursuit of Freedom." This research explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), womanist visual culture, and the theo-moral imagination, as conceptualized by AnneMarie Mingo. By examining how AI can analyze and generate visual narratives that reflect womanist visual culture, this work aims to illuminate new dimensions of agency and moral responsibility in religious contexts.

The theo-moral imagination, as discussed by Mingo, refers to the ethical and moral frameworks that guide social activism and justice movements. In the context of AI, this concept can inform how AI tools are developed and used to amplify marginalized voices and promote social justice. By integrating AI experiments with womanist theology, this research highlights the potential of AI to enhance or complicate notions of freedom, particularly in terms of representing marginalized voices.

A significant challenge in using AI for visual narrative analysis is the risk of perpetuating existing biases and stereotypes. AI systems, particularly those based on machine learning, often reflect and amplify societal biases present in their training data. This can lead to misrepresentation and underrepresentation of marginalized groups, such as Black women, in visual narratives. To address this issue, it is crucial to develop AI tools that are informed by diverse data sets and perspectives, ensuring that AI outputs respect and amplify marginalized voices.

In the context of visual culture, AI image analysis and generation are transforming how we create and interpret images. AI can be used to generate images that challenge traditional stereotypes and promote diversity. By focusing on specific descriptions and keywords, AI tools can help amplify representation and bring inclusivity into digital spaces. Human-AI collaboration in data-driven visual storytelling offers another promising approach. By combining human creativity with AI's ability to generate rich details and enhance story elements, narratives can be crafted that are both emotionally engaging and informative.

This research will also draw from feminist decolonial imagination, which emphasizes the importance of challenging dominant narratives and promoting social justice. By integrating AI experiments with womanist theology and feminist decolonial imagination, this project aims to illuminate new dimensions of agency and freedom, particularly in terms of representing marginalized voices. The session will explore how AI can be used to enhance narrative agency and moral responsibility in religious contexts, while emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive AI practices that respect diverse religious narratives.

In conclusion, this paper will contribute to a deeper understanding of AI's role in shaping narrative agency and moral responsibility in religious contexts. By exploring the intersection of AI, womanist visual culture, and theo-moral imagination, this research aims to promote more inclusive and equitable AI practices that amplify marginalized voices and challenge existing power structures. The ultimate goal is to ensure that AI tools are developed and used in ways that respect diverse cultural narratives and promote social justice.