Anjo Thomas, SJ
Introduction
Human civilization has evolved, swiftly ascending the stages of development as tool-using apes metamorphosed into technology-assisted beings, epitomizing an extraordinary saga of innovation and progress. The 21st century was ushered in by the rise of information technology. In just the first quarter of this century, we have witnessed how the internet has transformed our lives and the emergence of artificial intelligence.
In the Sermon on the Mount, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. In Matthew 6:7-13, Jesus provides them with a model for prayer. Is meaningful prayer still possible in the era of AI? When we are constantly glued to the screens of electronic devices, how can we pray meaningfully?
Essential Elements of prayer
While prayer cannot be strictly defined, it can be understood through its various aspects. At its core, prayer may be described as a means of connecting with the Divine. As Karl Rahner suggests, there is a transcendental dimension to human nature. Human beings have the capacity to ask two fundamental types of questions: temporal and transcendental. Temporal questions are context-based, addressing concerns within limited horizons, whereas transcendental questions engage with deeper inquiries regarding origin, destiny, meaning, and purpose. This inherent tendency toward transcendental reflection underscores the spiritual dimension of human existence.
Is meaningful prayer still possible in the era of AI? When we are constantly glued to the screens of electronic devices, how can we pray meaningfully?
The human person remains an inexhaustible mystery at every stage of history. There exists within each individual an innate longing to transcend the present reality and seek something greater. Access to this spiritual realm can take multiple forms, and God freely communicates with this transcendental human nature. This connection itself can be regarded as prayer—not merely a means of problem-solving but a profound relationship.
Every sincere effort to establish communion with the Divine may be considered an act of prayer. More structured and intentional approaches to this connection are found in conventional prayer methods and established spiritual practices.
In the age of AI
AI-powered social media, once a tool for connection, has degraded into a dehumanizing force in the hands of humanity. It entraps us behind endless scrolling, disconnecting us from both our fellow human beings and transcendental realities. Blinded by digital distractions, we struggle to navigate life when hardships arise. In this context, reconnecting with the Divine through faith becomes the first step toward genuine prayer. Recollecting and rediscovering ourselves in the depths of solitude and silence attunes our inner faculties, making us more receptive to divine revelation. While God can communicate with us in any state, actively seeking this connection in the digital age requires intentional effort.
Data-driven AI bombards us with highly customized content, overwhelming our minds with information and depriving us of the qualitative dimensions of human life. Social media can indeed be used to share prayer materials, Bible verses, and spiritual reflections—acts that facilitate prayer in a digital context. However, while our hearts may be moved by shocking realities presented through videos or images, we often fail to realize that AI is simultaneously harvesting our data, ensuring that we remain glued to our screens.
Humanity is the product of a long evolutionary process. If one asks why religion exists, the answer lies in its role as a formal means of connecting with transcendental reality. Throughout history, slow and gradual change has allowed humans to adapt to new ways of living and thinking. However, the rapid technological shifts of today have fundamentally altered the way we engage with and exist in the world, presenting new challenges to our spiritual lives.
Use of Technology and Prayer
The usage of technology varies from person to person. There are a variety of AI tools available for a single task, and age plays a key role in how individuals interact with AI. For elderly people, traditional methods of prayer remain deeply meaningful and purposeful. In contrast, the younger generation may show some aversion toward such traditional ways of praying.
“But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
The constant motion of unending scrolls on our screens detaches us from our memories and alienates us from our previously grounded focus. Becoming aware of this disconnection and intentionally breaking the loop can help us return to our memories and reorient ourselves to reality, pulling us out of virtual distraction. Living a real, grounded life is at the heart of the prayer Jesus taught.
In Dilexit Nos, no. 19, Pope Francis writes, “She was able to dialogue with the things she experienced by pondering them in her heart, treasuring their memory and viewing them in a greater perspective… The Greek verb symbállein, ‘ponder,’ evokes the image of putting two things together (‘symbols’) in one’s mind and reflecting on them, in a dialogue with oneself.” This contemplative attitude of Mother Mary helped the Catholic Church strike a balance between tradition and modernity, as Prof. Claus Schatz SJ pointed out. For elderly people who feel overwhelmed by the rapid technological immersion in their active prayer life, adopting Mary’s attitude of reflection and discernment can be particularly helpful.
Concrete Methods for Prayer in the Age of AI
As for the younger generation, the first step toward meaningful prayer in today’s chaotic world is recognizing and constantly accepting the transcendental nature of human existence. No one can definitively prove or disprove the existence of God. But our innate inclination to the transcendental nature is conclusive personal evidence for the existence of God. This realization, along with the understanding that science does not have all the answers to human questions, fosters humility—ultimately leading us toward the Divine.
Cultivating a desire to pray and connect with the Divine is the first step in nurturing a meaningful spiritual life in today’s digital world. Practicing gratitude—even for the smallest gifts—helps reorient our hearts toward the sacred in everyday life. Interestingly, AI can also assist in spiritual exercises such as the examination of conscience, offering guided reflections or questions to help us review our day in light of God’s presence. When silence and calmness seem difficult to achieve, one can even turn to AI for assistance—asking for help in discovering ways to slow down, be still, and reconnect with realities beyond ourselves. These transcendental realities, though invisible, deeply affect our lives and can be accessed through intentional, prayerful openness.
The constant motion of unending scrolls on our screens detaches us from our memories and alienates us from our previously grounded focus. Becoming aware of this disconnection and intentionally breaking the loop can help us return to our memories and reorient ourselves to reality, pulling us out of virtual distraction. Living a real, grounded life is at the heart of the prayer Jesus taught. In the Lord’s Prayer, He says, “Give us this day our daily bread” and urges us to seek reconciliation with others—both of which emphasize concrete, real-life concerns. Therefore, reconnecting with real life, away from the illusions of virtual reality, is a key element of the Lord’s Prayer and essential to meaningful prayer in the age of AI.
Jesus taught us how to pray, and as generations have passed, the content of prayer has remained the same, but its expressions have taken many different forms across a wide spectrum. Acknowledging our innate potential to connect with transcendental divine realities – and intentionally cultivating a personal relationship with the Divine – is essential for living a meaningful and purposeful life. Artificial Intelligence, when used mindfully, also has the potential to enhance this capacity by supporting deeper reflection, access to spiritual resources, and creative expressions of prayer.
AI is ultimately a tool, and like any tool, it can be used for prayer. Take the example of music: when music first emerged and became integrated into human life, it was primarily used for recreation or as an aid in accomplishing difficult tasks. However, the poetic and transcendental nature of music soon revealed its potential to express realities beyond the tangible—connecting us to the divine and giving voice to the spiritual. Historically, civilizations such as the Egyptians and Babylonians used musical instruments and compositions to invoke the divine. We are also familiar with the biblical figure David, who used music extensively in his prayer life and worship.
Similarly, AI may hold a comparable kind of potential. Perhaps the next generation will be the ones to fully explore and harness this spiritual capacity. However, how we use AI for such a purpose depends greatly on the depth of our faith. At the same time, we must remain vigilant—AI, if not handled wisely, also has the potential to distract us and even erode our faith. It is essential, therefore, that we use it not as a replacement for spiritual discipline but as a means to deepen our connection with the divine.
Conclusion
To conclude, Jesus taught us how to pray, and as generations have passed, the content of prayer has remained the same, but its expressions have taken many different forms across a wide spectrum. Acknowledging our innate potential to connect with transcendental divine realities—and intentionally cultivating a personal relationship with the Divine—is essential for living a meaningful and purposeful life. Artificial Intelligence, when used mindfully, also has the potential to enhance this capacity by supporting deeper reflection, access to spiritual resources, and creative expressions of prayer.
