The talk will offer an introductory overview of main issues that increasingly confront and structure research and teaching in religion-related fields of scholarship. As such it offers a backdrop and stage for the papers of this open panel. It will reflect on how artificial intelligence is reshaping teaching, learning, and research practices in theology and religious studies, with particular attention to pedagogy, epistemic authority, and ethical responsibility. How can AI be integrated into theological education in ways that enhance learning, equity, and scholarly rigor without undermining academic integrity, human agency, and interpretive responsibility? Drawing on emerging practices such as advanced prompting, content repurposing, multimodal learning, and AI‑supported research workflows, the talk will analyze AI as a formative "technology of the sacred" that mediates knowledge, interpretation, and tradition. It explores concrete roles of AI in curriculum design, student support, critical reflection, creative exploration, and scholarly research, while critically addressing risks related to bias, over‑reliance, data ethics, and inequality of access. It will be argued that responsible AI use in theology requires explicit pedagogical frameworks, ethical guidelines, and reflective AI literacy that foreground transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. By situating AI within the broader moral and spiritual aims of theological education, the paper contributes to interreligious and intercultural discussions on how digital innovation can serve human flourishing rather than merely technological efficiency.