Trump praised by faith leaders for AI leadership as they warn of technology's 'potential peril'

The signatories said they are "pro-science" and fully support the advancement of technology which benefits their own ministries around the world. 

The faith leaders warned about the technology advancing at an out-of-control pace that could cause "potential peril" for mankind.

The U.S. should not hesitate in its efforts to "win the AI race," the pastors told Trump, but cautioned that victory mustn't come at any cost.

"As people of faith, we believe we should rapidly develop powerful AI tools that help cure diseases and solve practical problems, but not autonomous smarter-than-human machines that nobody knows how to control," the letter states.

"The spiritual implications of creating intelligence that may one day surpass human capabilities raises profound theological and ethical questions that must be thoughtfully considered with wisdom. One does not have to be religious to recognize religion as a type of compounding wisdom over the centuries, and virtually all religious traditions warn against a world where work is no longer necessary or where human beings can live their lives without any guardrails," the leaders wrote.

They urged Trump to develop an advisory council or delegate authority to an existing agency or council "which would convene leaders who will pay attention especially not only to what AI CAN do but also what it SHOULD do."

In April, Trump signed an executive order to implement AI education in the classroom to create "educational and workforce development opportunities for America's youth."

The AI order, Trump's latest pro-AI measure, established a White House task force for AI and education that will work with federal agencies and the private sector to help draft AI programs for schools.

Fox News' Alec Schemmel and Emma Colton contributed to this report.