A Review of AI on the Understanding of Music, Religion and Future/Emerging Trends

Abstract

This research examines the interplay between artificial intelligence, sacred music, and religion. The emphasis is on the influence of AI development on spiritual expressions and practices. Artificial intelligence is employed to study, produce, and perform particular forms of religious music, including Gregorian chant, Sufi qawwali, and gospel hymns. This prompts significant inquiries regarding authenticity, agency, and the essence of the Divine. The research delineates three primary trends: AI as a liturgical co-creator, algorithmic curating of sublime experiences, and the emergence of synthetic spiritual communities. These tendencies contest conventional notions of authorship, cultural context, and spiritual purpose, while creating new opportunities for personal and modern worship. Ethical issues with cultural appropriation and the commodification of spirituality underscore the necessity for collaboration among theologians, ethnomusicologists, and technologists. This collaboration can direct the application of AI in manners that respect the sacred rather than undermine it. As AI embodies human ideals, it obscures the distinction between calculation and reflection, prompting us to contemplate what may exist beyond language in our era of intelligent robots.