Artificial Intelligence and the Transformation of Religious Authority: Evidence from Nigeria’s Digital Worship Economy

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how religious messages are produced, ranked and circulated, yet population-level evidence on its consequences for religious life in highly religious societies of the Global South remains scarce. This study examines how exposure to AI-generated and AI-curated religious content relates to trust in clergy, the perceived authenticity of religious messages and participation in online worship in Nigeria. Drawing on Weber’s theory of authority, signalling theory and the economics of religion, it analyses 2024 data from a multi-stage stratified survey of adult Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones, using logistic and linear regression. Greater AI exposure is associated with higher odds of reduced trust in clergy (OR = 1.42, p = 0.004) and lower perceived authenticity of religious messages (β = −0.28, p = 0.012), but also with more time spent in online worship (β = 0.31, p = 0.009). AI thus expands access to religious goods while weakening the credibility signals on which clerical authority rests. The study recommends content-provenance tools for religious organisations, faith-based digital literacy programmes and clearer rules for labelling AI-generated religious content.