Malaysia’s AI Preachers Spark Debate on Religious Authority and Technology

Malaysia’s AI Preachers Spark Debate on Religious Authority and Technology
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The launch of AI-powered Islamic preachers in Malaysia, developed by former Islamic affairs minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, has ignited a debate over the role of technology in religious discourse, an article by South China Morning Post reported.

The avatars, “AI-Dr Munir” and “AI-Dr Munirah,” are trained on over 9,000 of Zulkifli’s articles using ChatGPT and designed to deliver fatwas and sermons.

Supporters argue the initiative modernizes preaching, making religious guidance accessible. Zulkifli emphasized the avatars summarize his verified views, calling them “social media-friendly.” TikTok users praised the female avatar’s sermon on spousal obligations, with one commenting, “Dr. Zul is advancing Islamic outreach.”

Critics, however, warn of risks. Social media users highlighted AI’s tendency to “hallucinate” (generate false information), questioning accountability for misleading advice. “What if hacked or wrong?” asked X user Liza Yusof. Others fear erosion of human-led religious learning, a core Islamic principle. Concerns also arose over the avatar’s Indonesian accent and perceived immodest appearance, diverting from Malaysia’s regulated preaching norms.

While Zulkifli’s stature lends credibility, skeptics predict a surge of unvetted AI “scholars.” The debate reflects broader tensions between innovation and tradition in Malaysia, where Islam is the state religion and teachings are tightly controlled. Authorities have yet to comment on regulatory measures.