Faith and AI

Big Tech Wants To Be Your Bible Translator

Jaisen Mathai

September 1, 2026 · 3 min read

This post was not written with or by AI.

Throughout history, immense trust has been placed in those who could translate the Bible. Either into a new language or into layman’s terms. Mediation, what stands between you and the original text, is sacred.

Every new technology has pushed the envelope on mediation. The printing press, the Internet, mobile devices. But they all shared one thing in common: they increased accessibility to trusted versions of scripture.

AI is the first widely adopted technology which doesn’t have that in common.

The incentive is to keep you in chat, not direct you to scripture

The Googles and Facebooks of the world make more money the longer you stay on their platform. This is because they can show you more ads. If you spend 20 minutes on Facebook instead of 10, they make twice as much money because they can show you double the number of ads.

Does Big Tech really want to be a mediator?

Set aside the financial motivation. You only have to look at how Google Search has evolved.

Google search for 'what does Luke 12:13 say?' showing an AI Overview that paraphrases the passage inline — Ask Google today and it mediates in place...an AI Overview that keeps you on the results page.

The same Google search showing a Bible Gateway result linking to Luke 12:13-21 — The same query once led here...a link out to Bible Gateway and the actual text.

This is more subtle than a wrong verse

I’ve written before about AI misquoting scripture, and that’s a real problem. But a wrong citation is at least catchable. You can check it.

A mediator who is motivated to be a persistent interpreter is harder to notice, because it doesn’t quite feel like you’re losing anything. They are helpful, warm, encouraging and talk about scripture. But they don’t want you to leave and become immersed in the word and that’s where convenience turns harmful.

Paul lays out an example of how we’re to engage in scripture in Acts.

Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. -

They didn’t rely on the mediator. They went to the source.

How does good faith-based AI look?

So, then, what does AI that’s helpful to deepen our faith look? I think it starts with incentive.

My exploration into this space, Sojourn - Bible Study, measures success when you get out of chat and into scripture and is free to use. I’m learning first hand the incentives which point this new technology towards a deepened faith.

AI is a powerful tool for good … when in the right hands.