Accelerated Salvation? AI Sermons, Digital Religion, and Spiritual Optimization

Artificial intelligence is increasingly woven in religious communication through sermon generators, pastoral chatbots, devotional assistants, and personalized spiritual guidance platforms. These technical innovations reflect a broader drive toward optimization in religious organizations, where efficiency, immediacy, and responsiveness are proffered as solutions. This talk will explore the paradoxes surrounding AI sermon construction and content creation expectations.

This public lecture is hosted by the Centre for Technology and Human Futures.

When: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM — 7:00 PM
Where: NDS2/301, St Benedict's, 140 Broadway, Sydney NSW

Light refreshments on arrival from 5pm.

Professor Pauline Hope Cheong
Professor Pauline Hope Cheong holds several distinguished positions at Arizona State University (ASU). She is the President’s Professor and Zebulon Pearce Distinguished Teacher of the Social Sciences. She was the Founding Director of Engagement and Innovation at the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, where she still holds a professorship. She is a Focal Lead at the Global Futures Laboratory, and affiliate faculty at both the Center on Technology, Data and Society and the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict at ASU. Her research is multidisciplinary and multimethod, focusing on the interactions between communication technologies and diverse cultural communities worldwide. Current projects investigate how religious and civic organizations utilize AI, robotics, and digital media to foster local and transnational communities. Prof. Cheong has authored more than 120 articles and books and has co-led funded research projects totalling over $3 million USD.

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