Artificial Intelligence and Human Spirituality: Is a Spiritual Chatbot a Good Idea?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has led to sophisticated chatbots to provide virtual companions or to address mental health problems. Somewhat similar in design, a "spiritual chatbot," intended to enhance the user's spirituality, is within reach of today's technology. The key features of a spiritual chatbot are described, along with early experiments in the religious use of AI. Spiritual chatbots may play a positive role in promoting spirituality, but they should not act in the role of pastor or priest. With a proper balance of encouragement and honesty, they might be accepted as a means of grace leading to authentic spiritual growth.