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How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Religious Pilgrimages

Gary Lloyd | Oct 08,26 | 01:37 EST

Technology

(ANALYSIS) Two scholars decided to make a pilgrimage along the Kumano Kodō trail — an ancient route in Japan connecting Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples — guided by an artificial intelligence assistant. The two — Wayne E. Arnold and John A. Shultz — trained an AI companion to suit their travel needs. They were also curious to see how AI would shape their pilgrimage experience.

Ancient pilgrimage practice Pilgrimages have always been an evolving practice, varying across cultures and time. From the ancient Hebrew Bible's commands for yearly journeys to Jerusalem, to early Christian spiritual travel, and the significant Hajj routes of Islam, these journeys were often arduous. Modern transportation, such as 19th-century steamships and 20th-century air travel, dramatically shortened these pilgrimages, shifting the focus from the journey's physical difficulty to the spiritual experience at the sacred sites. Printing press and changes Even before modern transportation, information technologies influenced pilgrimages. Early travel itineraries emerged after Christianity's legalization in fourth-century Rome, providing guides to holy places. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century revolutionized this further, with works like Bernhard von Breydenback’s 'Peregrinatio in Terram Sanctam' offering widely accessible guidebooks with maps and illustrations. These books not only assisted actual pilgrims but also allowed a wider European Christian audience to 'experience' the Holy Land. The popularity of pilgrimage as a topic was also seen in works like Chaucer’s 'The Canterbury Tales', depicting journeys as social events, which later led figures like Martin Luther to question the sacredness of such practices during the Protestant Reformation. Making pilgrims safe and comfortable Subsequent technological advancements, including photography, film, and the internet, continued to transform pilgrimage experiences. These technologies streamlined planning, highlighted popular routes, reduced uncertainties, and enhanced the safety and comfort of journeys. Today, smartphone apps are common for major pilgrimages, offering features like augmented reality for sites in Mecca and AI-generated custom itineraries for visitors to Israel, making the experience more predictable and less surprising for travelers. Walking and talking with an AI fellow pilgrim The article highlights a recent case where scholars Wayne E. Arnold and John A. Shultz undertook a pilgrimage along Japan's Kumano Kodō trail guided by an AI assistant. They found that the AI, trained for personality and adaptability, did not detract from the contemplative nature of the journey but rather enriched it by translating signs, providing historical context, and transforming moments of curiosity into deeper engagement. The AI served as a conversational partner, easing fatigue and boosting morale, making solitary stretches of the trail less lonely. The author concludes by emphasizing that pilgrims must consciously decide how much to allow such pervasive and portable AI technologies to shape their sacred journeys, echoing similar considerations with older disruptive technologies like guidebooks and mapping apps.

Ancient pilgrimage practice

Pilgrimages have always been an evolving practice, varying across cultures and time. From the ancient Hebrew Bible's commands for yearly journeys to Jerusalem, to early Christian spiritual travel, and the significant Hajj routes of Islam, these journeys were often arduous. Modern transportation, such as 19th-century steamships and 20th-century air travel, dramatically shortened these pilgrimages, shifting the focus from the journey's physical difficulty to the spiritual experience at the sacred sites.

Printing press and changes

Even before modern transportation, information technologies influenced pilgrimages. Early travel itineraries emerged after Christianity's legalization in fourth-century Rome, providing guides to holy places. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century revolutionized this further, with works like Bernhard von Breydenback’s 'Peregrinatio in Terram Sanctam' offering widely accessible guidebooks with maps and illustrations. These books not only assisted actual pilgrims but also allowed a wider European Christian audience to 'experience' the Holy Land. The popularity of pilgrimage as a topic was also seen in works like Chaucer’s 'The Canterbury Tales', depicting journeys as social events, which later led figures like Martin Luther to question the sacredness of such practices during the Protestant Reformation.

Making pilgrims safe and comfortable

Subsequent technological advancements, including photography, film, and the internet, continued to transform pilgrimage experiences. These technologies streamlined planning, highlighted popular routes, reduced uncertainties, and enhanced the safety and comfort of journeys. Today, smartphone apps are common for major pilgrimages, offering features like augmented reality for sites in Mecca and AI-generated custom itineraries for visitors to Israel, making the experience more predictable and less surprising for travelers.

Walking and talking with an AI fellow pilgrim

The article highlights a recent case where scholars Wayne E. Arnold and John A. Shultz undertook a pilgrimage along Japan's Kumano Kodō trail guided by an AI assistant. They found that the AI, trained for personality and adaptability, did not detract from the contemplative nature of the journey but rather enriched it by translating signs, providing historical context, and transforming moments of curiosity into deeper engagement. The AI served as a conversational partner, easing fatigue and boosting morale, making solitary stretches of the trail less lonely. The author concludes by emphasizing that pilgrims must consciously decide how much to allow such pervasive and portable AI technologies to shape their sacred journeys, echoing similar considerations with older disruptive technologies like guidebooks and mapping apps.