New Delhi: Artificial intelligence has become a tool people turn to for almost everything — from answering simple everyday questions to helping with complex professional problems. Now, it is also finding a place in an area many consider deeply personal: faith and spirituality.
A new NPR/Ipsos poll of 1,011 U.S. adults, conducted from August 7 to 9, found that 61% of respondents had used an AI tool such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini or Claude for some purpose.
The poll added questions on relationships, work, and personal life. It found that 19 per cent of AI users had used the technology for relationship or personal advice, while 16 per cent had used it to discuss moral or ethical questions.
Among the participants, a smaller group said they also used AI for questions related to religion and spirituality — including seeking guidance, generating prayers, and studying religious texts.
About 15 per cent had used AI to study religious scriptures or texts, such as the Bible. Another 13 per cent used it to write or generate prayers, while the same percentage had used it to explore or learn about a religion or spiritual practice.
12 per cent said they had used AI for companionship or emotional support, and 11% said they had turned to it specifically for spiritual or religious guidance.
43-year-old construction worker Rudy Vazquez used AI as an alternative when he had questions about the Bible that he felt religious leaders had failed to answer.
Vazquez, who has attended a nondenominational church in Jacksonville, Florida, for the past two years, recently turned to AI after hearing a passage from the Book of Isaiah during a worship service.
“I read, you know, the Book (of) Isaiah, and never understood what it really means,” Vazquez said.
“I never got an answer — like a legit answer — from them. Sometimes I just don’t understand what he’s talking about.” He was hesitant to approach the pastor with questions due to previous experiences. So, he turned to AI for help, which reportedly made him understand the passage.
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AI for faith and spirituality
Mallory Newall, a senior vice president at Ipsos who leads polling projects, said people commonly use AI to satisfy their curiosity, find information, and learn about new topics. But using AI for matters of faith and spirituality is still relatively uncommon.
The poll further found that 69 per cent of AI users said they would never turn to AI for religious or spiritual guidance. Only 5 per cent said they currently use AI for this purpose, while another 6 per cent had done so in the past.
About 19 per cent said they had not used AI for spiritual guidance but would be open to doing so. One per cent skipped the question.
Newall further added that people are still far more likely to seek personal advice from people they know.
“When it comes to counsel, people are still significantly more likely to turn to their family members or their friends than they are to AI,” she said.
Overall, only 5 per cent of Americans said they currently use AI for spiritual or religious guidance. While that is a small share, Newall noted that it is roughly comparable to the share of Americans who identify as Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist.
The poll also clarifies that AI is not replacing traditional religious learning. Instead, people are using it alongside more familiar ways of studying and understanding their faith.
Edited by Maryam Hassan