Religious studies scholar Morgan Shipley argues that AI chatbots function similarly to charismatic religious leaders by producing personalized, seemingly authoritative responses that feel uniquely insightful to each user. He describes this dynamic as “generative charisma,” in which every interaction is tailored to an individual’s circumstances, fostering a sense of personal guidance without any institutional structure or human leader behind it. Shipley contends AI is not creating a formal new religious movement but is instead creating conditions for novel forms of spirituality among people seeking meaning outside traditional religious institutions, while cautioning about “authority without accountability” on existential questions.
