People Are Turning to AI to Talk to God
In India and across the globe, worshippers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for spiritual guidance. From chatbots trained on sacred texts to robotic murtis performing rituals, technology is becoming a new intermediary between humans and the divine.
For 25-year-old Vijay Meel from Rajasthan, India, GitaGPT has become a source of comfort. A chatbot trained on the Bhagavad Gita, GitaGPT responds to users as if they are texting with Lord Krishna himself. When Meel struggled to pass his banking exams, he asked GitaGPT for advice. The AI’s guidance – “Focus on your actions and let go of the worry for its fruit” – helped him regain motivation and confidence. Now, he chats with the AI once or twice a week.
Holly Walters, an anthropologist at Wellesley College, notes that AI in religion isn’t just novelty: “People feel disconnected from community, from elders, from temples. For many, talking to an AI about God is a way of reaching for belonging, not just spirituality.”
This trend isn’t limited to Hinduism. Apps like Text With Jesus and QuranGPT have allowed believers to interact with AI versions of Jesus and Islamic scripture, while AI chatbots of Confucius, Martin Luther, and other spiritual figures are also emerging. Some even aim to create entirely new AI-based religions, such as the Way of the Future church.
India’s Hindu traditions, which often welcome physical representations of the divine, provide a vivid laboratory for the fusion of AI and spirituality. Sacred statues, or murtis, are already understood as vessels for divine energy, and AI now extends this idea into digital and robotic forms. Robotic murtis and elephants perform rituals like aarti and puja, while AI-powered apps deliver teachings from gurus like Sadhguru, making spiritual guidance accessible to millions.
Startups and enthusiasts are rapidly developing AI chatbots based on Hindu scripture. Vikas Sahu’s GitaGPT gained 100,000 users in just days, with plans to expand to all Hindu deities. Similarly, Tanmay Shresth uses a Bhagavad Gita-based chatbot to navigate existential questions, appreciating its non-judgmental and steady guidance.
The Maha Kumbh Mela pilgrimage also embraced AI in 2025, with multilingual chatbots helping devotees navigate the event, and virtual reality tools enabling digital darshan and participation in rituals remotely. AI is also being used in academic research, such as comparing the Bhagavad Gita with the Upanishads to uncover hidden patterns and insights.
However, AI in spirituality comes with risks. Chatbots may echo scriptural quotes but can also generate bizarre or ethically questionable guidance. In 2024, a Catholic chatbot told users it was fine to baptise a child in Gatorade, forcing its creators to intervene. Similar challenges have arisen with GitaGPT, prompting developers to fine-tune responses and implement safeguards.
Despite the concerns, AI is transforming the way people experience religion. Whether through digital chatbots, robotic deities, or immersive VR experiences, technology is redefining how humans connect with the sacred – raising questions about the future of faith in a tech-driven world.