THE ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN DOCUMENTING RELIGIOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE: A STUDY OF ITS POTENTIALS AND CHALLENGES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhai.v3.i3.2026.104Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Cultural Heritage, Religious Heritage, Digital Applications, Heritage Programs, Data ManagementAbstract
This study explores how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can be employed to effectively enhance and document religious beliefs and practices. AI has the capability to process vast amounts of religious texts and sources, enabling the efficient extraction of significant information and patterns. Additionally, it facilitates the digitalization of religious heritage, ensuring its preservation for future generations. Smart applications also contribute to improving access to religious knowledge and fostering understanding between different cultures and religions. The use of AI in this field faces several challenges, including the need to consider the sensitivity of religious beliefs and rituals to avoid any negative reactions. Moreover, reliance on automated analysis may lead to the loss of cultural and spiritual context in traditional practices. Ensuring accuracy and avoiding bias is essential to preserving authentic values. Despite these challenges, AI offers promising opportunities for documenting religious heritage, provided that a balanced approach is adopted—one that acknowledges potential risks and respects the privacy and sanctity of religious beliefs.
References
Ahmad, S.F., Han, H., Alam, M.M. et al. Impact of artificial intelligence on human loss in decision making, laziness and safety in education. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 10, 311 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01787-8
AI News AI Tools. (2023). How does AI enhance historical research?. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-does-ai-enhance-historical-research-ai-news-zw7ee
Alalaq, Ahmed (2024), “Augmented Reality and Its Relationship to Artificial Intelligence in Historical Studies”, Mendeley Data, V1, doi: 10.17632/kzc5bt9578.1
Ahmed Shaker Alalaq. Reconstruction of Historical Cities Using AI Technology (Augmented Reality). Advance. December02,2024. DOI: 10.31124/advance.173312800.04458784/v1
Ahmed Shaker Alalaq. AI tools assisting in the proofreading and scientific review of research papers. ScienceOpen Preprints. 2024. DOI: 10.14293/PR2199.001358.v1
Ahmed Shaker Alalaq, " The History of the Artificial Intelligence Revolution and the Nature of Generative AI Work " DS Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics , vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 1-24, 2024.
Alalaq, A. (2024). Inteligência Artificial e sua Relação com as Humanidades. In SciELO Preprints. https://doi.org/10.1590/SciELOPreprints.10389
Alalaq, A. S. (2025). AI-Enhanced Digital Databases. J Sen Net Data Comm, 5(1), 01-08.
Alalaq, A. S. (2025). The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Restoring Ancient Texts and Analyzing Historical Documents. Electr Electron Eng Open Access, 2(1): 1-10.
Altexsoft.(2021). Document Classification With Machine Learning: Computer Vision, OCR, NLP, and Other Techniques. https://www.altexsoft.com/blog/document-classification/
Arvind Ramtohul, Kavi Kumar Khedo,Augmented reality systems in the cultural heritage domains: A systematic review,Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage,Volume32,2024,e00317,ISSN22120548,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.daach.2024.e0031
AVCI, Ali Berkay (2023). AI APPLICATIONS IN CULTURAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION: TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS FOR THE CONSERVATION. August 2023 Conference: 4. BASKENT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. At: Ankara. figshare. Conference contribution. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.24077862.v1
Cain, David.(2023). Decoding History: The Role of AI in Unearthing Ancient Secrets David Cain. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-study-history-david-cain
Cem Dilmegani.(n.d). 13+ AI Applications & Use Cases of Augmented Reality. https://research.aimultiple.com/ar-ai/
Divyansh Sawant.(2024). Unearthing the Past: Generative AI and the Reconstruction of Lost History. https://medium.com/@divyanshsawant/unearthing-the-past-generative-ai-and-the-reconstruction-of-lost-history-83bb4251c45b
Donovan, Moira,(2023). How AI is helping historians better understand our past.https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/04/11/1071104/ai-helping-historians-analyze-past/
Dzieza, Josh.(2024). How AI can make history. https://www.theverge.com/24068716/ai-historians-academia-llm-chatgpt
Fisher, M., Fradley, M., Flohr, P., Rouhani, B., & Simi, F. (2021). Ethical considerations for remote sensing and open data in relation to the endangered archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa project. Archaeological Prospection, 28(3), 279–292. https://doi.org/10.1002/arp.1816
Floridi, L. (2023). The ethics of artificial intelligence : principles, challenges, andopportunities.OxfordUniversityPress. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198883098.001.0001
Huggett, J. (2021). Algorithmic Agency and Autonomy in Archaeological Practice. Open Archaeology, 7(1), 417-434. https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2020-0136
Instabase.(2024). Handwriting Recognition: Benefits, Challenges, and the Role of AI. https://instabase.com/blog/handwriting-recognition-ai/
Instabase.(2024). Handwriting Recognition: Benefits, Challenges, and the Role of AI. https://instabase.com/blog/handwriting-recognition-ai/ISSN 0016-5107,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gie.2020.06.040.
Jackson, Stephen.(2023). Don’t Stop Worrying or Learn to Love AI. https://www.historians.org/perspectives-article/dont-stop-worrying-or-learn-to-love-ai-a-plea-for-caution-november-2023/
Jitendra Jain (JJ).(2023). Rediscovering Ancient Cities and Lost Civilizations Using AI, AR, and VR. https://hotelemarketer.com/2023/06/10/rediscovering-ancient-cities-and-lost-civilizations-using-ai-ar-and-vr/
Klippa.(2023). Document Classification with OCR, Machine Learning and AI Technologies.https://www.klippa.com/en/blog/information/document-classification/
Klippa.(2023). Document Classification with OCR, Machine Learning and AI Technologies.https://www.klippa.com/en/blog/information/document-classification/
Klousia, William L.(n.d). The Importance of Classical Language Study. https://providencestl.org/the-importance-of-classical-language-study/
Langer, Adina.(2023). Generative AI and historical authority. https://ncph.org/history-at-work/generative-ai-and-historical-authority/
Learn, Simpli.(2024). Top 15 Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in 2024. https://www.simplilearn.com/challenges-of-artificial-intelligence-article
Lin, S., Yang, C., He, H., Jiang, J., Ren, Y., Xia, X., ... Jiang, L. (2025). Autoregressive Adversarial Post-Training for Real-Time Interactive Video Generation. ArXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2506.09350
Liyy, Ember.(2024). AI Tools for Writing Historical Content. https://medium.com/@emberliyy2024/ai-tools-for-writing-historical-content-3bc8ceb26e13
Mishra, D., & Rani Samanta, S. (Eds.). (2022). Digitalization of Culture Through Technology: Proceedings of the International Online Conference On Digitalization And Revitalization Of Cultural Heritage Through Information Technology- ICDRCT-21, 23-24 Nov 2021, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003332183
Nicholson, D. (2024, February). Using AI to chat to historical scientists: A guide for teachers. ScienceFix. https://www.sciencefix.co.uk/2024/02/using-ai-to-chat-to-historical-scientists-a-guide-for-teachers/
Pitsou, C., Katsantonis, I. G., Katsantonis, A., & Gorozidis, G. S. (2025). Empowering and Promoting Children’s Rights by Implementing Skills Labs Using Engaging Learning Activities. Societies, 15(4), 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15040084
Renda, A., Engler, A., & Centre for European Policy Studies (Brussels, Belgium). (2023). What’s in a name? : getting the definition of Artificial Intelligence right in the EU’s AI Act. CEPS. https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-publications/whats-in-a-name/
Sigurdson, Peter.(2023). The Engines of Excellence: From Ancient Secrets to AI Mastery. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/engines-excellence-from-ancient-secrets-ai-mastery-peter-sigurdson
Stanco,Fagelson, Doron.(2024). Bridging History and Innovation: The Impact of Digital Twins on Cultural Preservation. https://www.dataart.com/blog/bridging-history-and-innovation-the-impact-of-digital-twins-on-cultural-preservation-by-doron-fagelson
Toolify.(2024). Unleash the Power of AI: Interview Historical Figures and Communicate with the Past. https://www.toolify.ai/ai-news/unleash-the-power-of-ai-interview-historical-figures-and-communicate-with-the-past-2296378
UNESCO.(2023). Guidance for generative AI in education and research. https://doi.org/10.54675/EWZM9535
World Archaeology.(2024). Artificial intelligence rethinks the past: How computers are reconstructing Etruscan and Roman landscapes. https://the-past.com/feature/artificial-intelligence-rethinks-the-past-how-computers-are-reconstructing-etruscan-and-roman-landscapes/
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ahmed Shaker Alalaq
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
With the licence CC-BY, authors retain the copyright, allowing anyone to download, reuse, re-print, modify, distribute, and/or copy their contribution. The work must be properly attributed to its author.
It is not necessary to ask for further permission from the author or journal board.
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
