Users turn to chatbots for spiritual guidance

In Brief

AI-powered chatbots play a increasing relation successful spiritual life, according to a New York Times story that examines the popularity of spiritual chatbots and apps.

The Times notes that an app called Bible Chat has been downloaded much than 30 cardinal times, portion different app, Hallow, reached the fig 1 spot successful Apple’s App Store past year.

For the astir part, these apps are expected to constituent radical to spiritual doctrine and scripture to reply their questions, though astatine slightest 1 website purports to allow users to chat with God. Rabbi Jonathan Roman suggested chatbots could beryllium a “way into faith” for “a full procreation of radical who person ne'er been to a religion oregon synagogue.”

However, these chatbots are built connected apical of AI models that are designed to validate users’ opinions, to the constituent that they tin reinforce delusional oregon conspiratorial thinking. Heidi Campbell, a Texas A&M prof who studies the intersection of integer civilization and religion, warned that chatbots “tell america what we privation to hear.”

“It’s not utilizing spiritual discernment, it is utilizing information and patterns,” Campbell said.

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