Podcast Summary: "Addressing the FAKE Videos of Me"

Podcast: The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Release Date: November 13, 2025

Main Theme

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz tackles the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on faith, personal representation, and human capacities. Prompted by the emergence of AI-generated scam videos impersonating him, Fr. Mike reflects on the deeper ramifications of technology—both its perils (especially scams and "amputation" of innate skills) and its potential to shape (and distort) human life and society.

Key Points & Insights

1. The Rise of AI Scams (00:00–04:45)

• Personal Impact: Fr. Mike shares how scammers have used AI to create fake sermons and fundraising videos in his name, targeting unsuspecting viewers.
• Concrete Examples:
  • Deepfake videos/audio used to trick people into believing he is soliciting donations for fictitious causes.
  • Scam scripts include lines like:

    "This is your last chance to receive God's blessings today. He wants to give you something, and I come in the name of Jesus to bring it." (01:45)

• Real Appeals: Clarifies legitimate fundraising efforts, such as the Seeds of Faith campaign and partnerships with Ascension and BulldogCatholic.org.
• Emotional Response: Expresses empathy for scam victims and highlights the sophistication of AI-generated content:

  "The artificial intelligence generated images and voices can sound very, very similar. That’s one thing." (04:10)

2. The Concept of "Amputation" (04:45–15:10)

• Definition: Introduces the idea, learned from the McGrath Institute at Notre Dame, that technology often "extends" human capabilities but can also "amputate" or stunt the original capacity.
• Historical Examples:
  • Storytelling:

    "We used to be storytellers...Our capacity to remember those stories and then communicate them again was intact. Then when we go write it down, we don’t remember those stories as well." (07:05)

  • Physical Activity:
    • Progression from walking to biking, to e-biking, to cars—each stage extends movement but can erode personal health and stamina.
  • Memory & Knowledge:

    "Now you just look it up. We've expanded, extended our capacity for memory into technology. But in the process, we’ve stunted that." (09:00)

• Creativity:
  • AI-generated letters and songs as easy shortcuts:

    "The creativity that is innate to humanity is extended by technology, but something in the process might be lost." (10:50)

• AI Tools Not Evil: Reminds listeners that tools like AI are not inherently evil, akin to bicycles or the internet, but come with trade-offs:

  "AI is not evil any more than a bicycle is evil, any more than the Internet of itself is evil. It is simply an extension of a human capacity beyond human capacity. What do we lose in the process is going to be the question." (11:27)

3. Reflections on Technology, Culture, and the Human Future (15:10–20:45)

• Modern Nostalgia:
  • Shares an anecdote about an airline’s 100th anniversary promotional video, showing futuristic visions of travel, to discuss how technological advancement might lead to virtual rather than real experiences:

    "I see with technology, more people willing to put on, like, an Oculus...and pretend to fly something rather than let me go do it myself." (16:18)

• WALL·E Reference:
  • Draws on the movie WALL·E as potentially more prophetic than The Terminator in predicting a world where physical and relational capacities atrophy:

    "Maybe the machines don’t rise up, but maybe we become machines. Maybe the dependency becomes so great that we forget what it is to have our own minds." (18:40)

• Christian Perspective:
  • Calls for discernment, not condemnation, of technology:

    "It’s not just what could we do with technology. It's the question, what might we lose?" (19:13)

  • Urges listeners, especially Christians, to evaluate both what is gained and what is at risk of being lost in the embrace of new tools.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On AI Scams and Disinformation

• "There are people who have made AI generated videos of me, audio of me giving sermons... and it's basically a scam." (01:00)

On Technology & Human Potential

• "With every expansion of technology, we’re extending a human capacity. And we’re also, in the process, stunting that thing." (09:35)

On Creativity

• "Something in the process is going to be lost." (11:10)

On the Dangers of Virtual Experience

• "We cease actually connecting with other people and only seek to connect with people virtually... there's a danger with technology." (18:55)

On Discernment in Technology Use

• "As thinking people, as Christians, as leaven in the world... we have to watch and say, okay, what are we gaining, but also, what are we in danger of losing?" (20:00)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – Fr. Mike introduces AI and the context of scams
• 01:00 – Details of AI-generated scam videos impersonating Fr. Mike
• 07:05 – Amputation through history: storytelling and memory
• 09:35 – Technology extends and simultaneously stunts capacities
• 11:27 – Neutrality of technology; questioning the cost
• 16:18 – Modern experience replaced by virtual reality
• 18:40 – "Maybe the machines don’t rise up, but maybe we become machines."
• 20:00 – Final reflections and call for discernment

Tone & Style

Fr. Mike’s tone is conversational, empathetic, and reflective—grounded in personal anecdotes and cultural references (from The Terminator to WALL·E), blending humor and concern.

"I grew up with the Terminator movies. I know about Skynet. I'll be back. Don't do that." (00:15)

He encourages thoughtful engagement, expressing both curiosity and caution about the future direction of technology.

Takeaway

Fr. Mike urges listeners to remain vigilant against the deceptive use of AI and to reflect deeply on what may be lost as technology continues to augment—and possibly amputate—our authentic human capacities for storytelling, creativity, connection, and faith.

"There’s a lot of things to be gained, but there’s a lot of things to lose." (20:25)

He invites discussion and discernment, asking: What do you think?