Designing a non-holy religious artificial intelligence

Twenty years ago, the idea of designing religious robots seemed like science fiction. Now, artificial intelligence is rapidly integrating into religious spheres, prompting discussions about its potential and implications. The author recalls a university assignment to design a "religious robot," a concept that was then experimental but is now becoming a reality with advanced AI agents.

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It was a topic that was quite experimental and unconventional for a humanities class at the time. It involved learning about cognitive science, evolutionary psychology, artificial intelligence, and cybernetics, and conceiving machines that embody the human religious mind.

AI's capabilities in processing religious doctrine and scripture surpass the average human, leading to its adoption by religious professionals. In South Korea, over half of Protestant pastors use AI for sermon preparation, a trend that has prompted concerns, with Pope Leo XIV issuing guidance to priests to limit AI use in homilies.

Beyond assisting clergy, AI is being integrated into more direct religious roles. Japanese Buddhism is developing "Buddha-roids", humanoid robots equipped with AI trained on Buddhist scriptures, capable of delivering sermons, offering spiritual counseling, and performing ritualistic actions. South Korean Buddhism has also experimented with ordaining robots and including them in ceremonies.

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AI agents created with large language models have already begun operating at a much higher level than that.

While these applications are currently symbolic or experimental, the rapid advancement of AI suggests that humanoid robots could soon replace human professionals in religious services and counseling. There are also expectations, and fears, that superintelligence could extend into religious ethics and even spiritual insight, traditionally considered a uniquely human domain.

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The potential for AI in religion is predicted to manifest in much broader and more dramatic forms outside of institutional religion.

The author argues that current discussions often focus on AI surpassing religious elites or becoming god-like entities. However, to prepare for this future, a deeper understanding of human religiosity is needed. Designing a "religious robot" today would involve mimicking not just perfect knowledge but also the inherent flaws, irrationality, and ritualistic behaviors characteristic of human faith. This approach, the author suggests, is more practical for understanding and strategizing for the future than focusing solely on AI's potential to replace or dominate.

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Mimicking human religiosity, which is flawed and far from holiness or transcendence, is what it means to model it.