A new phenomenon has emerged on the digital services market: religious chatbots, which are becoming a massive tool for spiritual practices. Millions of users in different countries turn to AI every day with their confessions, doubts, or requests for support, receiving answers generated based on sacred texts.
A new phenomenon has emerged on the digital services market: religious chatbots, which are becoming a massive tool for spiritual practices. Millions of users in different countries turn to AI every day with their confessions, doubts, or requests for support, receiving answers generated based on sacred texts.
According to The New York Times, apps with «faith in algorithms» are entering the App Store’s top ten, even surpassing TikTok and Netflix. Among the leaders are Bible Chat with over 30 million downloads, the Catholic Hallow, which took first place in the Apple store last year, and Pray.com with 25 million users. Some services, such as ChatwithGod, even allow you to choose your denomination and the format of communication — from prayer to confession.
The developers explain that the chatbots act as «digital chaplains»: they are available 24/7, quoting scripture and offering advice. Users turn to the AI with any problem — from depression and frustration to questions about the meaning of life or preparing for the death of loved ones. According to Heidi Campbell, a professor at the University of Texas, chatbots are becoming a new channel for religious search, especially among a generation that rarely attends church or synagogue.
However, the phenomenon is controversial. Some clergy consider such practices useful as a complement to traditional communities, but warn that AI only imitates spirituality, without having a «soul.» There are also privacy issues — after all, users reveal their most intimate experiences to chatbots.
The rise of religious chatbots coincides with a global shift away from traditional religiosity. In the United States, about 40 million people have stopped attending church in recent decades. New apps are lowering the barrier to seeking spiritual support, allowing people to talk about their faith without judgment and anonymously. This is what makes AI assistants popular among both believers and those who are just looking for their own path.
Recall that previously dev.ua wrote about how in the USA the number of cases is growing when people attribute mystical properties to chatbots, in particular ChatGPT, considering them sources of revelations, truth, or spiritual awakening.
