A new digital awakening is unfolding in some churches, where pastors and prayer apps are turning to artificial intelligence to reach worshippers, personalize sermons and power chatbots that supposedly resemble God.
Why it matters: Some users say AI is helping churches stay relevant in the face of shrinking staff, empty pews and growing online audiences. But the practice raises new questions about who, or what, is guiding the flock.
State of play: New AI-powered apps allow you to “text with Jesus” or “talk to the Bible,” giving the impression you are communicating with a deity or angel.
- Other apps can create personalized prayers, let you confess your sins or offer religious advice on life’s decisions.
- “What could go wrong?” Robert P. Jones, CEO of the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute, sarcastically asks.
The big picture: Many places of worship are using the tool in mundane ways — deploying chatbots to answer frequently asked questions such as service times and event details, or feeding congregation attendance data into AI software to help them tailor outreach and communications…