Can advances in artificial intelligence alter something as deeply rooted as religious belief? This thought-provoking video from Chicago Booth Review explores the surprising connection between the rise of AI and the decline in religious affiliation. Drawing on the research of University of Chicago Booth School of Business’s Joshua Conrad Jackson and Northwestern University’s Adam Waytz, the video reveals how the proliferation of automation technologies, from AI to robotics, correlates with a measurable decrease in religiosity. Through vivid animation and storytelling, the video explains key insights from Jackson’s research. It highlights how people tend to ascribe “godlike” attributes—such as omnipresence and omniscience—to AI systems, potentially shifting the human reliance on religious frameworks. The video offers a clear, engaging explanation of how technological change is reshaping belief systems across the globe. Viewers learn about an unexpected aspect of the AI revolution, and the video challenges us to consider the broader social implications of technological progress. The technical skill of Chicago Booth Review's video team of Josh Stunkel and Ray Zane, along with the inherent interest produced by the research topic, helped make this video an easy one for viewers to engage with.
From the Judges
This is super well done. The voice-over, b-roll, and graphics really added to it and helped tell a compelling story.
