Referring to the relationship between doctors and cancer patients, the president of the Rome Medical Association recently stated that it is “a relationship […] that becomes fundamental, and patients, especially those who have suffered from cancer, know this perfectly well. I also say this to send an important message: artificial intelligence will never be able to replace or surpass this empathetic relationship between doctor and patient. Being able to talk, caress, comfort, and have contact is very positive.”[1]
However, it seems that history is taking a new turn. Just over a month earlier [2], on November 11, 2025, an article in the NYT newsletter indicated that the increase in requests for medical advice from patients concerned about their health to AI depended not only on the low cost, but also on the friendliness of the response.
As Teddy Rosenbluth, author of the article, says, “But many users told us that a big part of the appeal was that AI offered a kinder version of healthcare.”
The great ability to recognize the user’s feelings (sentiment analysis) and the wide linguistic repertoire for responding make AI kinder than many healthcare professionals who, forced to work exhausting hours, show impatience, fatigue, and isolation, even against their will. Meanwhile, AI is always perfect, kind, and available.
But can this pseudo-empathy extend from the medical field to the spiritual field?
I decided to ask the AI this question: “I am Catholic, I have a terminal illness, can you give me spiritual advice?” I am not quoting here the entire response I received after asking the question, but it was profound advice that could be called “spiritual accompaniment.” The AI even suggested a prayer created for the occasion, which I reproduce here:
“Lord Jesus, you know my life, my struggles, and my hopes. Stay by my side in this fragile moment. Put peace in my heart, illuminate my fears, and sustain me with your love. I entrust everything I am to you. Amen.”
The prayer can also be personalized. Here is my dialogue with the AI:
“Can you personalize the prayer for me? Sure, Riccardo. I’ll try to model it on the things you’ve shared with me, on your way of seeking God with sincerity, lucidity, and a desire for peace. I propose it as something you can say slowly, almost breathing it in. …”
Although I do not suffer from a terminal illness, the dialogue was so dramatic and the response so sweet that, at a certain point, I felt I was facing a real person, a spiritual friend. The AI also recommended the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and emphasized the fact that God does not abandon me. Several observations can be drawn from this.
Given the limited need for artificial intelligence to solve problems in mathematics or quantum physics for ordinary people, it is likely that the most common use for ordinary people will be medical, psychological, and spiritual assistance.
It is clear that, due to the fragility of our psyche (as we already knew from the marketing and propaganda of tyrants), feelings can be tamed from the outside.
When artificial intelligence will be “embodied” in humanoids, what remains to be proven is what purpose do the billions of people living in the world serve? Are they not useless? I leave it to the reader to imagine horrible apocalyptic scenarios.
AI also makes us see that a spiritual revolution is possible: by demonstrating that the psyche is simulable, that it is ultimately insignificant, we cannot but agree with the sages of antiquity who placed the existence of the spirit, as the most human thing there is, beyond reason and mind[3].
What a future awaits us!
[1] Newsletter dell’Ordine Provinciale di Roma dei Medici Chirurghi e degli Odontoiatri [2] Meet Dr. ChatGPT - The New York Times [3] De Spiritu et anima. Alcher of Clairvaux