Panel: RELIGION, ALGORITHMS, AND INEQUALITIES OF VISIBILITY



482.3 - THEORIZING ABOUT RELIGIOUS INFLUENCERS IN AN AI ERA: WHAT HAPPENS TO DIGITAL CREATIVES AS SOURCES OF RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY IN THE SOCIAL-TECHNICAL WORLD OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

AUTHORS:
Campbell H. (Texas A&M University ~ College Station ~ United States of America)
Text:
While traditional religious authority has shifted toward the decentralized influence of Religious Digital Creatives (RDCs), the emergence of Artificial Intelligence introduces a new layer of complexity to this digital reformation. This paper builds upon Heidi Campbell's (2020) framework regarding the "technological apologetic" and "unintentional authority" to theorize the evolution of RDCs within a socio-technical landscape increasingly governed by generative AI. While RDCs historically bypassed hierarchies by leveraging relational influence, an AI-saturated culture threatens to subvert the human-centric "authenticity" that defines their power. This study investigates how the algorithmic authority previously harnessed by human creators is being redistributed to and reshaped by AI systems. The integration of AI into religious life creates significant theoretical disruptions for digital influencers. First, the displacement of human charisma becomes a central concern; if RDCs gained authority through relatable content, that power is challenged when large language models can synthesize "authentic" religious discourse and theological insights at scale. Second, the "unintentional authority" of the digital creative is now subject to advanced algorithmic mediation. Here, platform curation prioritizes data-optimized output over spiritual intent, potentially transforming the RDC from an original creator into a curator of machine-generated tradition. Finally, this paper proposes a theoretical extension of Campbell's work by examining the potential need for an "AI Apologetic." RDCs must now justify their relevance not only against the institutional church but also against "automated spiritual intelligence" providing 24/7 personalized guidance. Ultimately, this research argues that the AI era fosters a post-human religious authority where influence is contested by both human practitioners and autonomous entities, fundamentally altering spiritual expertise.