Digital Islamic Humanities

Digital Islamic Humanities

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Cognitive Bias in Religious Education: Based on the Data of Jing Zhang

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Qur'anic Sciences and Hadith, Eqlid Higher Education Center, Iran
Abstract
Drawing on the studies of Jing Zhang, this research examines the inherent biases in content generated by artificial intelligence and their impact on users' perceptions of and interactions with religious teachings. The evaluation results indicate that generative artificial intelligence not only influences cognitive biases but, in some cases, reinforces them. The findings highlight the dual potential of this technology in religious education: on the one hand, enhancing learning and intercultural understanding, and on the other, increasing the risk of reinforcing prejudice and bias.An analysis of users' responses to AI-generated content concerning different religions revealed that their perceptions and evaluations of these religions were significantly affected. Among the religions examined, Islam experienced a greater decline in evaluation scores than the others, a phenomenon that may be attributed to deficiencies in the training data used by AI models. Such data introduce biases that may, in some cases, reflect systematic prejudice.The study emphasizes the necessity of adopting a critical perspective toward AI-generated content and of preparing educators to address these challenges effectively. Although comprehensive empirical investigations into the impact of artificial intelligence on religious bias remain limited, an examination of AI-generated content indicates that materials related to Shi'a Islam are of relatively poor quality and, in some instances, exhibit evident biases. This research contributes to the growing discourse on AI ethics and highlights the central role of artificial intelligence in shaping inclusive and impartial religious education in the digital age.
Keywords
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