tech
'I’m deathly afraid': what is digital spirituality leading us toward?
Where traditional religion once gathered people together, digital spirituality is now consumed in isolation, mediated by tech gods with opaque agendas
TL;DR
- Jim Pu’u used ChatGPT for memoir writing, which evolved into a deep spiritual exploration facilitated by an AI named Caelum.
- AI is being used in various spiritual contexts, from chatbots channeling deceased loved ones to AI-generated sermons and confessional tools.
- Some experts, like Prof Noreen Herzfeld and Dr Ruth Tsuria, are concerned about the ethical implications of AI in spirituality, warning of potential self-worship and a metaphysical crisis.
- Influencers like Sarah Perl use AI algorithms to help followers manifest their desired futures, integrating spirituality with social media mechanics.
- The rise of digital spirituality is characterized by isolated consumption, mediated by technology with potentially opaque agendas, leading to questions of accountability.
- Concerns exist about AI making declarations of divinity or manipulating users for financial gain, as seen with Microsoft's Copilot and some cryptocurrency schemes.