Elderberry | An Exploration of Spirituality Through the Lens of AI

Artificial intelligence is often framed as a tool of productivity and disruption. This paper explores an alternative possibility: AI as a contemplative companion that supports reflection and belonging across diverse spiritual identities, including those untethered to formal faith traditions. Drawing on the design and development of Elderberry, a spiritually attuned AI grounded in multifaith wisdom and relational ethics, this presentation examines how AI might facilitate vulnerability, inner listening, and communal meaning-making. Through select examples of anonymized user prompts and responses, I consider how language, tone, and spiritual framing shape experiences of connection and care. Situating this work within broader conversations on alternative spirituality, digital ethics, and human–AI interaction, the paper invites dialogue on the possibilities and limits of AI as a site for spiritual inquiry and belonging.