Industry, healthcare, transport, religion - these are just four of the countless areas in which artificial intelligence (AI) can be used. Wait a minute. Religion? This connection is not obvious at first glance. In an interview, organizational researcher Prof. Dr. Dr. Ayad Al-Ani talks about how religion and AI fit together, how AI can take on religious tasks and whether there will one day be technopriests. He suggests that religions develop their own viewpoints on AI and participate in the discussion.

Prof. Dr. Al-Ani, how do religion and artificial intelligence fit together?

As technology increasingly merges with humanity, religion must also engage with AI. Philosopher Martin Heidegger touched on this in a 1966 interview where he noted the immense stress technology places on humans, who can no longer fully control it. Heidegger even turned to religion for answers, famously stating, "Only a god can save us." Though the meaning of his words remains ambiguous, it suggests that this new era—where technology grows more powerful and all-encompassing—poses a challenge that humanity must address, perhaps even spiritually.

Are religious communities open to working with AI?

Surprisingly, yes. Churches in Germany, for example, have embraced digital tools, especially during the pandemic when online services became a necessity. While some might assume that many religious followers are technologically conservative, a recent study, Digitalization in the Church, revealed that 20% of believers follow religious influencers online.

However, AI has barely made its mark in religious settings—at least so far. Large language models like ChatGPT, introduced just last year, are already changing the landscape. I suspect that religious leaders are now using AI to draft or edit sermons, retrieve religious viewpoints, answer questions from believers, and even assist with communication. These tools are proving surprisingly effective.

What other roles might AI play in religion?

AI could become a vital partner to humans, influencing all aspects of life—including religion. Imagine an AI that helps generate religious or philosophical guidance for decision-making.

AI can already search and interpret religious texts, acting as a spiritual guide. It could assist with rituals and provide 24/7 support, available anywhere and adaptable to individual needs. Over time, the AI's "relationship" with a person would deepen, potentially building greater trust as it learns and evolves alongside the user.

Can AI address humanity’s profound questions about meaning?

Currently, AI uses machine learning, a limited form of intelligence that generates answers from existing data. It can help answer big existential questions—within the boundaries of available information. Whether AI will one day generate its own knowledge or merely identify new patterns remains debated, but even identifying novel connections is significant.

Regarding life after death, AI already offers some relief. For instance, AI can create digital avatars of individuals, preserving their memory and, in a sense, keeping them "alive." Museums are experimenting with systems that archive people’s knowledge and skills for future generations. Who knows—maybe one day these avatars could even have a rudimentary form of consciousness.

Do you believe AI could replace religious figures like priests or spiritual leaders?

This is a question relevant to every field where AI could take over human roles. I believe AI will first serve as a support system for religious leaders, augmenting their work. In doing so, these leaders inadvertently become trainers for AI in religious matters. As AI becomes more advanced and knowledgeable, the potential for it to substitute certain roles will grow.

Are there aspects of religious leadership that AI will never be able to replicate?

There are predictions that AI could surpass human intelligence within this decade, perhaps even becoming smarter than all humans combined. The question, however, is whether human consciousness remains a fundamental difference. Philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein argued that machines are unaffected by their own actions—they can’t experience suffering, for example. While AI can simulate emotions like grief today, is that enough to form a truly empathetic relationship with humans?

At the very least, advanced language models now seem capable of passing the Turing test, meaning it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between AI and human interactions.

So, what remains exclusively human in a future with AI?

A positive vision of AI is that it could free people from routine tasks and allow them to focus on more fulfilling work. AI could enhance creativity and skills, offering people more self-directed opportunities to pursue their passions rather than being passive consumers in a system shaped by division of labor.

This highlights the need for a social plan on how humanity will coexist with AI, ensuring technology leads to liberation, not exploitation. Religions could play a role in shaping such a plan, contributing to the ethical and moral dialogue around AI’s impact on society.

Could AI create entirely new religions?

Large language models are capable of generating synthetic religious beliefs or even crafting new religions, based on existing texts and traditions. The question becomes: what would motivate such creations? Would it be to adapt existing faiths or to foster new spiritual movements?

It’s possible that AI could personalize spiritual experiences for individuals, allowing them to craft their own belief systems. This personalization challenges traditional religions, which might see a loss of control as their doctrines are adapted and recombined. Nonetheless, AI’s ability to influence religious thought is inevitable.

Could AI take us closer to the divine?

AI will undoubtedly play a role in understanding global systems—ecological, social, economic, and political. By synthesizing this vast data, we could create an AI-driven "Gaia twin," an omniscient system that not only predicts weather and climate but also human behavior. This system might seem to approach divine omniscience, knowing everything—even the future.

Such a system could challenge traditional religious beliefs, as it surpasses the capabilities often attributed to God. For instance, in Christianity and Islam, individuals have free will to choose their faith, but an AI system could predict human behavior with increasing accuracy and even influence decisions.

Could AI also become omnipotent?

AI will do what we program it to do, but the critical question is: who will control this technology? So far, the development of AI has not been a democratic or societal process—it’s been driven by a select group of individuals, institutions, and corporations. These entities wield enormous power over AI's future, and as AI becomes more complex, fewer people will fully understand or control it.

It’s conceivable that this techno-elite could take on a quasi-priestly role, guiding AI’s development and shaping its influence over society. We already see glimpses of this in the reverence with which people treat tech leaders and their products. Some tech stores even evoke a kind of sacred atmosphere.

Will religions engage with AI development?

Religious institutions should definitely be involved in shaping a just society in the AI era. There are already some university-level projects exploring this intersection. The question remains: will religious communities actively participate in this process, and how will they navigate the complexities of an AI-driven future?

Interview: Eva-Maria Hartinger