On March 24, 2025, Gloo, a Boulder, Colorado-based faith-tech company, announced the appointment of Pat Gelsinger, former CEO of Intel, as its Head of Technology and Executive Chairman. This high-profile hire signals Gloo’s ambition to integrate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as virtual assistants and chatbots, into its offerings for Christian churches and faith-based organizations. Gelsinger’s appointment, blending his extensive tech leadership with a mission-driven focus on niche faith markets, positions Gloo to redefine how technology serves religious communities.
Appointment Details
Gelsinger, who stepped down from Intel in December 2024 following a strategic disagreement with its board, brings over four decades of experience in the tech industry, including leadership roles at Intel and VMware. His new role at Gloo, effective March 24, 2025, marks his first operational position since leaving Intel. Having served as Gloo’s non-executive chairman since 2018 and an investor for nearly a decade, Gelsinger’s expanded responsibilities include overseeing product and engineering efforts, with a particular emphasis on developing AI solutions tailored to the faith ecosystem. Gloo, founded in 2013, supports over 100,000 churches and faith organizations with digital tools and recently raised $110 million in 2024 to fuel its AI initiatives.
AI Innovation Focus
Gelsinger’s mandate at Gloo centers on creating “values-aligned AI” to enhance church engagement and outreach. Key projects include virtual assistants and chatbots, such as the “Faith Assistant,” which provides Bible-based answers customized with church-specific content, like sermons and teachings. These tools aim to streamline communication, offer spiritual guidance, and connect faith leaders with their communities in a digital-first world. Gloo’s broader vision involves building one of the first vertical industry clouds for faith, a platform designed to unify a fragmented market of approximately 450,000 U.S. churches, faith networks, and nonprofits—a sector historically slow to adopt technology.
Strategic Significance
The hiring of Gelsinger reflects Gloo’s intent to bridge technology and faith, a personal passion for the lifelong Christian, who has led efforts to expand church membership in the San Francisco Bay Area for over a decade. His statement, “Technology has the power to connect, uplift and transform lives—but only when built with purpose,” encapsulates the mission. Gloo CEO Scott Beck highlighted Gelsinger’s decade-long involvement as an investor and board member, noting his pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategy. This move comes at a time when AI’s societal impact is under scrutiny, and Gloo aims to differentiate itself from Big Tech by embedding Christian values into its offerings, such as “safe search” chatbots grounded in biblical principles.
Market Context
The faith-tech sector represents an untapped opportunity, with churches increasingly seeking digital solutions to engage members and reach new audiences. Gloo’s existing platform provides a digital workspace for ministry leaders to manage content, communication, and outreach, serving as a foundation for its AI expansion. Gelsinger’s expertise in scaling technology at Intel—where he drove AI hardware innovations like the Gaudi 3 GPU—positions him to accelerate Gloo’s growth. The company’s $110 million funding round in 2024, coupled with strategic investments in firms like Barna Group, underscores its commitment to becoming a trusted tech partner for faith communities amidst a crowded AI landscape.
Implications and Outlook
Gelsinger’s leadership at Gloo could catalyze a shift in how faith-based organizations leverage technology, potentially setting a precedent for other niche markets to adopt purpose-driven AI. His arrival amplifies Gloo’s credibility and signals a push toward mainstreaming faith-tech, though it raises questions about the broader implications of ideologically tailored AI. As Gloo prepares for its next growth phase, Gelsinger’s dual focus on innovation and values may redefine the intersection of technology and spirituality, offering churches tools to flourish in a digital age while navigating the ethical challenges of AI deployment.
