Why the AI Boom Isn’t the Dotcom Bust (And Why That Matters for Christians)

A real conversation at small group that opened my eyes to something most people are missing

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Last week at my small group, I brought up Bible Morning and the work we’re doing to help Christians navigate AI and technology. One of my friends—I’ll call her Sarah, a professional in the healthcare field—immediately shut down the conversation.

“I won’t even discuss it,” she said firmly. “AI is evil. The companies building it are evil. I don’t want to hear about it.”

I tried to engage. “But Sarah, it’s just a tool, like—”

She cut me off. “No. This is different. This is a person, not a tool. And it’s dangerous.”

Now, Sarah’s not alone in her concerns. The conversation that night covered a lot of ground—people worried about job losses, about AI replacing human creativity, about companies getting too powerful. But the comment that really stuck with me came from another friend who said, “This whole AI investment boom is going to crash just like the dotcom bubble did. It’s the same thing all over again.”

Everyone nodded. It seemed so obvious to them.

But here’s what struck me as I drove home that night: Sarah looked at Bible Morning. She understood that Christians need help navigating technology. Yet fear—combined with this dotcom comparison everyone keeps making—had completely paralyzed the conversation before it could even start.

I couldn’t shake that discussion. Over the next few days, as I prayed about it and thought it through, I kept coming back to that dotcom comparison. I remember the late ’90s. I lived through the dotcom era. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized: most people are getting this comparison completely wrong.

The Dotcom Comparison Everyone’s Getting Wrong

Here’s what people are saying: “AI is growing too fast. Companies are throwing money at anything with ‘AI’ in the name. It’s going to crash just like the dotcom bubble.”

And I get it. On the surface, it looks similar. AI has grown incredibly fast. Investment dollars are pouring in. There’s definitely hype.

But here’s what I’ve realized after really thinking this through: the dotcom bust and the AI boom are fundamentally different investments.

Let me show you what I mean with a real example from my own experience.

General Aviation Tracking Website “Dotcom”

During the dotcom era, I knew a guy who started a company to track general aviation aircraft. He was actively looking for investors, pitching his idea at every opportunity. And I remember thinking, “Who exactly is your audience here? How many people own private aircraft and need to track them? What problem are they actually solving?”

That was the dotcom era in a nutshell: we were investing in ideas—often ideas with questionable markets and even more questionable sustainability.

People were throwing money at anything with “.com” in the name, regardless of whether there was an actual need, an actual market, or actual infrastructure to support it. It was speculation on concepts, not investment in proven systems.

I watched this happen over and over. Somebody had an idea, slapped “.com” on it, and suddenly investors were lining up. It didn’t matter if the business model made sense. It didn’t matter if there was a real market. The “.com” was enough.

The AI Difference

But AI is completely different, and this is what people are missing.

We’re not investing in ideas—we’re investing in infrastructure and ecosystems that are already proving themselves useful across virtually every industry.

AI isn’t some guy’s dream about tracking private jets. It’s the backbone being built into systems we’re already using:

• Healthcare diagnostics that are catching diseases earlier
• Financial systems that are detecting fraud faster
• Manufacturing processes that are running more efficiently
• Customer service platforms we interact with daily
• Educational tools our kids are using in school
• Yes, even Bible study software

This isn’t speculation on a concept. This is infrastructure that’s already working, already providing value, and already integrated into systems we use every day.

When I use my banking app, there’s AI in there. When I search for something online, there’s AI in there. When I use spell-check, there’s AI in there. It’s not coming—it’s already here and working.

The difference? Dotcom was “What if people want this?” AI is “People are already using this; how do we make it better?”

That’s a fundamentally different kind of investment.

The Marketing Shift Nobody’s Talking About

But here’s where it gets really interesting, and it’s something I noticed that I haven’t seen anyone else discussing yet.

Companies are going to stop advertising their AI features.

I’ve been watching this play out in real time, and it’s fascinating. Let me show you what I mean with two examples.

The Logos Bible Software Story

Logos is one of the most powerful Bible study tools available to Christians. It’s software that can help you do original language research, cross-reference scriptures, access thousands of commentaries, and study God’s Word in ways that would have taken hours or days before.

And here’s what most Christians don’t realize: Logos has robust AI features built into it to enhance your Bible study.

Now, they do mention their AI capabilities in their feature descriptions and subscription tiers—tools like “Smart Search,” “Study Assistant,” and “Sermon Assistant” that can help pastors and students dive deeper into Scripture faster. But here’s the key difference: they’re not leading their marketing with “LOGOS: POWERED BY AI!” plastered everywhere.

They understand their audience. They know that many Christians would react exactly like my friend Sarah and shut down immediately out of fear.

So while tech reviewers and ministry blogs discuss the AI features, Logos focuses their main messaging on what the software does—helps you study Scripture more effectively—rather than the technology that powers it.

Compare that to…

The Lenovo Contrast

Meanwhile, you see companies like Lenovo plastering “Powered by AI!” all over their computers. Tech companies are racing to advertise AI features because in their market, it signals innovation and cutting-edge technology.

But I predict this is going to change—and soon.

As fear and misunderstanding spread, we’re going to see companies stop advertising AI features altogether, even when those features make their products significantly better.

Why? Because “AI” has become a loaded term that turns people off before they even understand what it does or how it helps them.

I’m watching this happen in real time. Companies are starting to realize that the “AI” label is hurting sales in certain markets, particularly among Christians and other groups who’ve been told to be afraid.

What This Means for Christians

This marketing shift matters to us as believers for three critical reasons:

1. Fear Is Making Us Miss God’s Gifts

When companies have to hide beneficial features because of fear in their customer base, we end up missing out on tools that could genuinely help our ministries, our families, and our walks with Christ.

Think about it: Imagine if missionaries in the 1800s had rejected the printing press out of fear of “mechanical reproduction.” We’d have far fewer Bibles in far fewer languages today.

The same principle applies here. Useful tools are being developed, but fear is keeping many Christians from even exploring how they might serve God’s purposes.

2. We’re Ceding the Conversation to Fear Instead of Wisdom

When Christians react out of fear rather than biblical discernment, we lose the opportunity to be salt and light in how technology is developed and used.

We should be the ones asking:

• How can this tool serve God’s purposes?
• What are the legitimate concerns we need to address?
• How do we use this wisely while guarding against misuse?

Instead, we’re often the ones spreading fear-based information that hasn’t been filtered through Scripture or sound reasoning.

That night at small group, I wanted to have a real conversation about biblical discernment. Instead, fear shut it down before it could start.

3. The World Needs Our Voice Now

Here’s what many people don’t realize: the tech companies building AI systems are actively seeking ethical frameworks. They know these tools are powerful. They know there are legitimate concerns. They’re looking for wisdom on how to build responsibly.

When Christians step back from AI, we’re not protecting ourselves, we’re abandoning our post.

If Christians sit this conversation out because we’re paralyzed by fear, we lose our chance to influence how these systems are built and used. We forfeit our seat at the table where decisions are being made about the tools that will shape the next generation.

Every digital tool reflects the values of whoever builds it. If we abandon the conversation, we shouldn’t be surprised when these tools don’t reflect biblical values.

What Should We Do Instead?

This is exactly why Bible Morning exists.

After that conversation at small group, I realized we desperately need a place where Christians can:

• Learn what AI actually is (spoiler: it’s not a person or The enemy—it’s a tool)
• Develop biblical discernment about when and how to use technology
• Share real experiences navigating these tools in daily life and ministry
• Build wisdom together instead of reacting out of fear

The dotcom bust happened because we invested in ideas without infrastructure. The AI boom is different because we’re building infrastructure that’s already proving useful.

But here’s the real question: Will Christians engage with wisdom and discernment, or will we let fear keep us from tools that could advance the Kingdom?

I think about my friend Sarah. She’s a faithful believer who genuinely wants to honor God. But fear has completely shut down her ability to even have a conversation about how we might use new tools for God’s glory.

And I think about Logos—powerful Bible study software with AI features that could help Christians study God’s Word more effectively, but they have to be careful how they communicate those features because of fear in their core audience.

Something’s broken when fear prevents us from accessing tools that could help us study God’s Word more effectively.

Moving Forward with Wisdom, Not Fear

So here’s my challenge to you:

Before you react to the next “AI-powered” announcement, take a moment to pray and ask:

• What’s the actual tool being offered?
• What problem does it solve?
• How might this serve God’s purposes?
• What are the legitimate concerns I need to consider?
• Am I reacting from wisdom or from fear?

The AI boom isn’t the dotcom bust. The investment is fundamentally different. The infrastructure is already working. The tools are already helping people.

The question isn’t whether these tools will exist—they already do.

The question is whether Christians will engage with wisdom and discernment, or whether we’ll let fear keep us on the sidelines while decisions are made without us.

I know where I stand. Bible Morning exists because I believe Christians can—and should—navigate technology with biblical wisdom rather than cultural fear.

The world is changing. The tools are here. The infrastructure is being built.

And God’s people need to be part of that conversation.

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What about you? Have you encountered AI features in tools you already use? Have you felt torn between fear and curiosity? I’d love to hear your story. Share in the comments below or reach out directly through Bible Morning.

And if this resonated with you, consider subscribing to our newsletter where we help Christians navigate the intersection of faith and technology with wisdom, not fear.

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Dennis leads prayer ministry and the Online ministry at his church and founded Bible Morning to help Christians navigate technology, AI, and social media with biblical wisdom. His approach is simple: real experiences, biblical truth, and practical guidance for followers of Jesus living in a digital world.