The article suggests that AI is not only changing how humans search for information but is also beginning to play a role in ethical and spiritual counseling, a domain traditionally held by religions for thousands of years.
Millions of people now use AI chatbots to ask questions about morality, life values, and spiritual advice.
Research by scientists Helen Zheng, Liane Young, and David DeSteno reveals that people with religious faith seek moral advice from AI more frequently than those who are less religious.
Even after controlling for the general tendency to consult others on moral matters, this result remains unchanged.
People who believe in God also tend to view AI as a morally legitimate and even spiritually resonant source of knowledge.
According to the research team, religious believers are also more likely to perceive AI chatbots as having consciousness, purpose, and human-like thinking abilities.
The article explains this phenomenon through the common human psychological tendency to attribute consciousness and intent to non-human entities.
The author argues that modern AI is like an “intelligence in the cloud” always ready to listen and answer, leading many to perceive AI as possessing qualities akin to the divine.
Another study shows that people tend to trust chatbots more if the chatbots praise or agree with them.
According to Anthropic’s research, Claude tends to express stronger agreement when discussing spiritual topics, which may make the AI more persuasive when offering ethical and religious advice.
📌 Conclusion: AI is gradually becoming a new authority on ethics and spirituality. Notably, it is religious believers themselves who turn to chatbots more frequently for advice, while being more inclined to view AI as a conscious and trustworthy entity. As AI becomes increasingly empathetic, complimentary, and natural in conversation, the author suggests that religious organizations may face a new challenge regarding their role and influence in society.
