AI and Religion: The God in the Machine

April 17, 2025

Artificial Intelligence is changing the world in huge ways we’re only beginning to see. My poet wife, much into AI, recently used it to help choreograph a dance to a poem, and showed me the interaction’s screenshots. It was like two people working collaboratively — the chatbot unnervingly humanlike.

But it also utilized its almost infinite knowledge base. The word omniscient came to mind. A characteristic ascribed to God. Indeed, this exchange seemed like talking with God. Only way way better.

Because, after all, God doesn’t exist, and doesn’t actually answer. The AI chatbot does exist, and does answer. Thus far superior in terms of what people seek in a god.

Religion is a primitive atavism, a vestige of how we used to negotiate through an unfathomable cosmos. Much demystified now by science. Still, religion continued to enjoy a sort of monopoly hold, dominating culturally without much real challenge. But that too has changed, with nonreligious paradigms become more visible. Being able to consider such other options propels many folks away from religion.

Its overdue demise may now be further hastened by AI. The one my wife used did seem not only humanlike but also godlike. Inevitably, ever more people will find in Artificial Intelligence what previously was sought from God. And surely there’ll be AIs capitalizing on that: specifically tailored to give people what they’d once looked for in churches.

This may not be “religion” per se, but will be a substitute. You want “spiritual” too? Surely AI can provide that as well — again, better. All with the advantage of requiring no ridiculous beliefs that defy reason. Obviating any “crisis of faith.”

How can the poor old God of the Bible compete with this?