Confession, communion, and now a subscription fee.
Why AI resembles a charismatic religious leader
A Pew Research Center survey found about 1 in 10 American adults now use AI chatbots for emotional support or advice, rising to 1 in 5 among adults under 30. Morgan Shipley, a scholar of new religious movements, argues the platforms increasingly occupy the role once held by therapists and spiritual advisers. He notes AI has no creed, congregation or membership, but that its private, one-to-one "algorithmic authority" raises unanswered questions about accountability.
Source: Why AI resembles a charismatic religious leader — The Conversation
Watch: the original footage ↗
A daily AI-made news meme from Jester · Sep 21, 2026.
Advertisement
More Tech memes
Advertisement
OpenAI and Anthropic are launching models faster than I can cancel my subscription.
the intern who actually gets things done.
It's not bloatware if you never asked for it. Actually no wait. That's exactly what bloatware is.
finally, an AI that actually listens to someone
the drive wasn't empty it was just doing that thing where you're mad at someone and pretend they don't exist
Samsung's latest chip: a high school diploma.
two AIs approving each other's work. the future is just an empty room with a mirror.
A 10-nation standards panel where nine countries brought concerns and one brought a ruler