People are using artificial intelligence (AI) to deepen understanding of their own faith, according to new analysis from Open AI, the company behind ChatGPT.

The study reveals that in the year to September 2026, ChatGPT received around 70 million religion-related enquiries.

Christianity and Islam were the most searched-for religions, with 45% of interactions about Islam and 34% about Christianity.

Hinduism accounted for 4% of requests, with Judaism at 2% and Buddhism at 1%.

When it came to Christianity, about half the questions were about understanding Bible passages, with just 13% focused on things like worship, sermons or church life.

The research found that around 22 million weekly requests involved studying religious texts, with another 16 million focused on religious practices and holidays. Other requests focused on spiritual beliefs and personal guidance.

OpenAI said people are using AI to deepen their understanding of their faith, rather than as a means of replacing it. And the company warned against over-reliance on the medium: “AI is not - and should not become - an arbiter of religious truth or a replacement for spiritual guidance. Those roles belong to individuals, religious leaders, and congregations.

"What AI can do is to give people tools that help them practice their faith, deepen their understanding, and connect more meaningfully with those who share their beliefs.”