Understanding Religion and Artificial Intelligence: Meaning-Making in the Digital Age

Is artificial intelligence just another tool, or is it something more… Special? In Understanding Religion and Artificial Intelligence: Meaning-Making in the Digital Age, Randall Reed and Tracy J. Trothen delve into this provocative question, revealing how our perceptions of AI are deeply intertwined with age-old human impulses to define the extraordinary. Introducing their innovative “Model of the Special,” Reed and Trothen illuminate how individuals, groups, and cultures dynamically shape AI’s meaning, ranging from the mundane to the Sacred and Demonic. Through compelling case studies—from AI chatbots, sport, and art to self-driving cars and “Deadbots”—the authors explore how narratives of awe, fear, and even transcendence position AI as a truly “Special thing” in our modern world. Drawing on insights from religious studies, ethics, and sociology, this interdisciplinary exploration provides a crucial framework for understanding the profound societal, ethical, and spiritual implications of AI. Understanding Religion and Artificial Intelligence invites readers to engage in vital conversations about AI’s impact on meaning, values, and the very fabric of human experience in this rapidly evolving digital age. Prepare to see AI—and ourselves—in a whole new light.