Widely regarded as one of the foremost clergy experts on artificial intelligence, Dr. Benek is recognized internationally for bringing theological depth, philosophical sophistication, ethical clarity, and cultural accessibility to conversations surrounding AI and emerging technologies. At a time when technological systems are increasingly shaping not only how humanity lives but what humanity ultimately becomes, his work focuses on the urgent need for wisdom, moral imagination, spiritual formation, and human dignity within technological civilization.

His commentary and analysis have been featured internationally by major media organizations including The New York Times, BBC, NPR, and The Guardian, where he has contributed insight on artificial intelligence, digital culture, ethics, transhumanism, religion, and the evolving relationship between humanity and technology.

A recognized pioneer in theology and technology, Dr. Benek is the co-founder and founding Board Chair of the Christian Transhumanist Association, an international organization exploring how science and technology can be understood through the lens of Christian theology, ethics, and human flourishing. His work has helped shape broader public discourse regarding the role faith communities must play as artificial intelligence increasingly transforms education, work, economics, governance, communication, creativity, relationships, and human self-understanding.

Dr. Benek is also the author of Church Leader’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence, a widely discussed work helping pastors, churches, and organizational leaders thoughtfully engage AI while preserving wisdom, authenticity, theological integrity, and meaningful human presence in an increasingly automated age.

His academic formation uniquely positions him within both theological and technological discourse. Dr. Benek earned both a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degree in Christian Ethics from Princeton Theological Seminary before completing a Doctor of Ministry degree through the groundbreaking Theology and Science program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary — the first doctoral program of its kind in the world. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Durham University, with a focus on theology, technological futurism, and eschatology. 

Long before artificial intelligence emerged as a dominant global concern, Dr. Benek was already exploring the theological, ethical, and philosophical implications these technologies would inevitably raise. His work now sits at the convergence of theology, ethics, philosophy, sociology, media ecology, and technological futures — helping audiences grapple with questions surrounding consciousness, embodiment, digital formation, authenticity, spirituality, attention, community, and the future of human civilization itself.

Born in Ashtabula, Ohio, during the American Bicentennial, Dr. Benek’s story bridges humble beginnings and global intellectual engagement. Raised in Northeast Ohio, he developed an early passion for ideas, leadership, public discourse, ethics, and technological innovation. Before entering ministry, he studied political science and history while serving as a student leader, athlete, editor, and advocate for campus-wide technological modernization at Hiram College. His vocational trajectory ultimately shifted toward theology following a profound spiritual transformation during his undergraduate years. 

Over the course of his career, Dr. Benek has served churches and communities across New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, and Florida while building a reputation as a rare bridge-builder between ancient faith and emerging technologies, theological tradition and cultural innovation, spiritual wisdom and technological progress. 

Today, Dr. Benek speaks internationally to churches, universities, nonprofits, technology leaders, conferences, and civic institutions on topics related to artificial intelligence, ethics, digital culture, theology, leadership, spirituality, and the future of humanity. His work consistently challenges audiences to engage technological advancement not merely with intelligence, but with wisdom; not merely with innovation, but with moral vision; and not merely with efficiency, but with deeper questions of meaning, dignity, purpose, and what it ultimately means to be human.

At the center of Dr. Benek’s work is a defining conviction:

The greatest challenge of the technological age is not whether humanity will build increasingly powerful machines — but whether humanity will develop the wisdom, character, and spiritual maturity necessary to guide them well.